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Obstacles to progress

Distortions

it in front of the local staff, behaviour which may have constituted harassment by the law
in their home country.

In Rwanda, one of the work colleagues I had previously worked with in another mission
and knew me well advised me to hide the fact that I was in a romantic relationship with
another woman. Since homosexuality is criminalised in Rwanda and rejected by society,

my colleague wanted to minimise the risks that I could face. But it meant I had to deny a
very important part of my identity, pretend to be someone else, pretend to be straight.

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The Rev Jackson George Gabriel, the curate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and

Sudan, tells me that he welcomes outside encouragement, confirming that the American
branch of his church "are telling us to stand firm against homosexuality". In a country

where President Salva Kiir has said that homosexuality will "always be condemned by
everybody", and where the public shaming of gay South Sudanese by local tabloid media

is growing, his stance enjoys a lot of support. Gabriel fears western influence is
fundamentally changing African societies for the worse. "Western society is trying to
destroy us," he says. "Behaviours such as fornication, spirit of independence, gay rights,

no respect for elders, abortion and birth control are being imported. African leaders must
maintain our culture." He says the archbishop of the local Episcopal church is currently

directing his ministries to investigate if they receive any funds from foreign churches that
back homosexual rights. "If so, they must cut all ties," Gabriel says.
These attitudes mirror the social agenda of many US evangelicals organisations which

have both charitable and ideological agenda “
"I'm an Aid Worker... and I'm Gay." 63
.Moreno, Raquel.
The Guardian, (March 12, 2015)

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US evangelicals in Africa put faith into action but some accused of intolerance
***
“ While some modern missionaries are aware of the colonial legacies attached to their
work, evangelical churches continue to provide aid while promoting an explicitly anti-gay

agenda – which Christian nations are more likely to support “
"US Evangelicals in Africa Put Faith into Action but Some Accused of Intolerance" 361
The Guardian.(March 2015)

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