A cynic might suggest that this threat by David Cameron is a ploy to wriggle out of the 0.7% GDP promise on the UK’s aid budget. (See here and here for my thoughts on this commitment.)
However, I was intrigued by this quote from Uganda Radio Network journalist, Charles Odongpho:
“I welcome any move to pressure our government to be respectful of democratic values and human rights but speaking as a Ugandan I think we have much more important issues to deal with than the rights of homosexuals.”
One could equally retort that given all the challenges facing developing countries such as Uganda, legislating to ban relations between members of the same sex should be the least of their worries.
Having foisted homophobia on Africa 150 years ago through the work of our missionaries it is perhaps appropriate that Britain plays an active role in trying to roll it back. As Odongpho goes on to say:
“This is your money and you know where you want to put it”
On the other hand, attitudes to homosexuality, highlight the clash of cultures challenge that we face in trying to actively develop poorer countries. Homophobia does genuinely appear to be an attitude commanding substantial popular support in many developing countries. Unlike the gender issue there is not even much of an economic argument to be had in favour of gay rights.*
Nonetheless, locking people up for engaging in consensual sex with other adults offends many Britons, and it is indeed our government’s money to dispense with as it sees fit. Like the fox-hunting debate of a few years ago in the UK, I think there might be more important issues on which to engage, but by my liberal values, both issues are simple moral questions, and on both counts the reactionaries are just wrong. If I were the UK prime minister I do not think I would have picked this fight, but now that Cameron has picked it, I find myself unable to disagree with him.
UPDATE: See the strong response from local activists here and then my refined thoughts here.
* On the basis that as a hidden characteristic sexual orientation does not greatly determine career prospects.
Bottom Up Thinking 
Posted by Sam Gardner on October 30, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Nice piece. I am convinced that development assistance is in the first place a moral imperative, meaning that moral arguments are important.
Most of the other reasons to give aid, are quite a stretch and mostly unproven.
Posted by MJ on October 31, 2011 at 5:38 am
Thx. I have developed one aspect of this argument in my next piece.