‘Shoot all the
battymen’ one lyric goes. ‘Burn all the gays’ is another.
These were the
words of Ugandan rapper Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, who has
appeared to have now evolved his views on LGBTI people.
The reality
star, who has performed all over the world, has spread a message to his fans to
‘replace violence with tolerance’.
In 2014, Wine was
banned from coming to the UK over his homophobic lyrics and his support of the
original Anti-Homosexuality Bill that called for the death of LGBTI people. Shortly after this, he was beset by malaria.
‘In my life, I
have disagreed with many people over many issues. Our opinions have differed on
religion, sexual preferences, politics and a wide range of ideologies,’ Wine
posted on Facebook.
‘There are
reasons why we differ in thinking ranging from the way we are brought up, our
geographical locations, social classification and the general mindset of
societies where we live. That however doesn’t mean that an individual is
superior or inferior to the other just because they differ in opinions about
the above.
Wine added: ‘My
key message this year is, ‘Ayawuka kundowoza yo tekimufula mulabe wo’
(difference in opinion doesn’t make us enemies).
‘Let us
approach every issue with respect for one another, let us replace violence with
tolerance. Yes! TOLERANCE. Let us tolerate each other no matter how far distant
our opinions might differ. I believe that if we all subscribed to only one
opinion, we would be damned fools.’
Edwin Sesange,
the director of the African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group, told Gay Star
News: ‘We’ve been in discussions with him. We welcome it, we would always
prefer a message of tolerance than a message of hatred and calling for the
murder of gay people.
‘It’s a step in
the right direction and we hope people now copy him. If Bobi Wine can preach
tolerance, after his message of hate, then it means that the work we do to
change people’s people’s attitudes change is happening.
Never too late to evolve! Thanks for posting this, friend! Love and naked hugs!
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