interesting reading

Hi all! I think this woman was in a couple of my classes and that some other Knights knew her too. Gotta run, throwing a Labor Day bbq using the bbq I inherited from the Kims and the Mexicans. Ms. Teresa Dunbar is expected to attend. Miss you all.
Justine

Stanford student journalist under fire in Uganda

BYLINE: By David Gauvey Herbert, The Stanford Daily; SOURCE: Stanford

LENGTH: 772 words

DATELINE: STANFORD, Calif.

Stanford University senior Katherine Roubos stumbled into a storm of controversy this week more befitting a Hollywood movie than a first-time journalism internship: religious leaders and hundreds of protesters rallied in the Ugandan capitol Tuesday, calling for her deportation because of her controversial articles on gay rights.
"I knew I was taking a risk writing about the issue, but the extent of the response has been totally unexpected," said Roubos, who has been interning at the Kampala-based Daily Monitor since July 2.
The backlash began after Roubos -- originally from Minnetonka, Minn. -- was assigned three stories on gay and lesbian Ugandans, who have become increasingly vocal in their demand for equal rights. The articles examined an ongoing gay rights court case, evaluated why police do not arrest gays and covered a press conference in which gay activists called for equal rights.
Homosexual acts are illegal in the East African country, and offenders may face life in prison if convicted. Many Ugandans are suspicious of gays and lesbians, and conspiracy theories that Westerners are working to repeal the ban on homosexuality abound. While other media organizations covered the press conference and court case, Roubos' nationality made her an easy target for anti-gay activists.
Tuesday's protest drew religious leaders, politicians and more than 200 of their supporters to a local rugby field, where they called for the media to stop covering LGBT issues. Protesters targeted Roubos along with the Aga Khan -- leader of 20 million Ismaili Muslims and owner of Nation Media Group, which publishes the Daily Monitor. A student band from a nearby primary school played drums and brass instruments to fire up protesters, who waved signs that read: "Deport Catherine (sic) Roubos" and "Agha (sic) Khan - fire Catherine (sic) Roubos - the homo propagandist."
Standing under a multicolored banner reading "Interfaith Rainbow Coalition against Homosexuality" alongside pastors, priests and imams, organizer and pastor Martin Ssempa railed against Roubos -- and he had done his homework. Ssempa said that he had performed a Google search and discovered that Roubos was involved with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Resource Center at Stanford, which led him to decide she must be a lesbian herself.
"This is not journalism, but rather criminal propaganda," said Ssempa, who held a young boy in his arms as he rallied the crowd.
Minister for Ethics and Integrity Nsaba Buturo was also on hand to represent the ruling party. Amidst the cheers of supporters, he assured the crowd that the government has no intention of repealing the ban on homosexuality before denouncing foreign journalists who advocate for gay rights.
"Allegations that homosexual elements have penetrated our media are being investigated," Buturo said before going on to describe homosexuality as a "weapon of mass destruction."
For Roubos, the experience has been profoundly frustrating. Stories about the protest have been syndicated in dozens of newspapers and on MSNBC and the BBC Web sites, winning her kudos from American friends and gay activists worldwide. But the local notoriety has been wearing on her.
"There were a few days where I was pretty nervous," said Roubos, who is working in Uganda this summer through the Rebele Internship Program in the Communication Department. "But I don't feel like there's any imminent physical threat to me."
Roubos said one of the most exasperating aspects of the controversy has been the implication that she arrived in Uganda with an agenda. While she is active in human rights issues at Stanford -- where she will return in the fall for one quarter -- Roubos stressed that all three articles were assigned to her by editors.
"I came to Uganda with absolutely no intention of getting involved in LGBT issues," said Roubos, whose editors have publicly defended her reporting. "When I got assigned the articles I was happy to do it, but I didn't expect to get embroiled in hefty political issues."
Perhaps worst of all, Roubos said the recent outcry has obscured the real issue: the Herculean efforts by Ugandan gays and lesbians to change the law.
"I can't say I'm surprised, but I am disappointed that the real news -- that people are debating the laws surrounding homosexuality -- could not catapult this into the spotlight," Roubos said. "I think it's too bad that you need an American martyr as a hook to make it an international issue."
EDITOR'S NOTE: David Gauvey Herbert is interning at the Daily Monitor this summer through the Rebele Internship Program.
(C) 2007 The Stanford Daily via U-WIRE