Has the BBC gone mad ?

This post has been cross-posted at Harry's Place

Liberal Conspiracy has picked up on this shocker from the Beeb :

A BBC Have Your Say Debate asks: ‘Should homosexuals face execution?‘

It starts by saying:

Yes, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question. But this is the reality behind an Anti-Homosexuality Bill being debated on Friday by the Ugandan parliament which would see some homosexual offences punishable by death.

After describing the contents of the Ugandan bill it ends by saying:

Has Uganda gone too far? Should there be any level of legislation against homosexuality? Should homosexuals be protected by legislation as they are in South Africa? What would be the consequences of this bill to you? How will homosexual ‘offences’ be monitored? Send us your views.

Unbelievable.

Some of the commenters are saying this should get as much publicity as the Jan Moir scandal. We will see.

So what is the Beeb thinking ? Is it some kind of issue with wishing to achieve "balance" ? There is an issue there, because obviously giving balance can only go so far. You don't give the same air time to people who want to "kill all Gypsies" as those who don't do you - surely, some principles are beyond debate.

Whatever the reason this looks like an almighty cockup.

UPDATE :

The Beeb have changed the debate title to “Should Uganda debate gay execution?”, not much better IMO. Talk about a question to which the only answer is no.