Via Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin comes the news that the author of the "Kill the Gays" bill in Uganda, David Bahati, is coming to Washington, DC to attend the "National Prayer Breakfast" on February 4th. The prayer breakfast is sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation (also known as "The Family.) Bahati told a Uganda newspaper of his plans:
In February, David Bahati, the mover of the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Bill is expected to attend a prayer breakfast in the American capital of Washington DC.The prayer breakfast is held at the Washington Hilton, which is around the corner from my place. The President attends as do Cabinet Secretaries and members of Congress. If the Fellowship Foundation/The Family wants Bahati as its guest, then Barack Obama, his cabinet and our allies on Capitol Hill can't go. It's that simple.
Mr Bahati, according to reports, may speak at the event where President Barack Obama – a gays-tolerant liberal president, is also expected to attend. On Friday, Mr Bahati said he would attend. The event is organised by The Fellowship- a conservative Christian organisation, which has deep political connections and counts several high-ranking conservative politicians in its membership.
“I intend to attend the prayer breakfast,” said Mr Bahati - himself a part organiser of the Ugandan equivalent of the national prayer breakfast. This week, citing international pressure, President Yoweri Museveni advised his party’s National Executive Committee, his cabinet and the NRM parliamentary caucus to “go slow” on the Bill.
The organizers of the prayer breakfast know what kind of message Bahati's presence sends. And, they must want to send that message. As Rachel Maddow has reported, there are long-standing ties between the Family and the "Kill the Gays" supporters in Uganda. Obama can't endorse that message with his presence.
Jim Burroway has an idea:
I think it’s a good time to convene a special session of the rainbow welcoming committee.The Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting also begins on February 4th. If Obama and other Democratic leaders attend the prayer breakfast with Mahati, the welcoming committee should visit the DNC meeting, too.
