Fundraising Gone Wrong?

Can good deeds be bad deeds if they're done by good people for good reasons in a bad place with bad people but will help good people with bad problems?

Huh?

Are you familiar with Recon.com?  The mega-men's-crusing-kink-event site out of the UK?  We've had a number of submissions and emails from people who question Recon's recent high profile promotion of an effort to raise money for people afflicted with AIDS in Malawi where almost a million people are living with HIV/AIDS.  That's almost 12% of the population according to the latest figures available through a UCSF AIDS website.  Several team members from Recon are taking part in a 500 K ride across Malawi to raise funds and awareness.  Information on the program and donation links have been firmly ensconced on the Recon home page for some months now.  

Why are people questioning this?  Because Malawi is one of 37 countries in Africa where's it's illegal to be homosexual.  And not just a few old rules on the books that nobody enforces any more.  No, it's pretty apparent that being gay in Malawi is a quick ticket to jail or worse as recent events attest.  No specifics on being "kinky" in Malawi but we can probably draw some safe conclusions.

So the question that people are asking then is, how much support do we, as kinky gay men, give to the efforts of a for-profit entity (Recon) to in turn funnel our money to various charities (Mission Malawi & act!onaid) who are sending money to unknown destinations in a country that would cheerfully imprison us?

Spoiler alert - we don't have the answers by the way!

It's just one of those interesting conundrums that life drops in our codpiece from time to time.  It's certainly not Recon's fault that Malawi imprisons it's gays and lesbians.  But it does call in to question the merits of asking your kinky gay patrons to support an effort in a place where we're clearly not welcomed.  The need is great, no doubt.  But the human rights issues are great too.  

In the end we each make up our own minds.  We keep our donations close to home with orgs that run low overheads and where we can see the results and keep our eyes on the money.  You'll never go wrong if you follow the money.

In the meantime we wish our friends at Recon good fortune with their endeavors and we hope that the money helps to alleviate what is a terrible crisis for a very poor country.  

Ultimately though, we'll be clicking on the Dating and not the Donating link while on Recon.

What are you going to do?  We'd like to get your thoughts and comments.

Comments

[HoganMelva]

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[West]

I'll give Recon an "A" for effort, and an "F" for execution.

[KAKE]

I couldn't agree less with the opinion implied in this article and by those in agreement. We should not be expected to open our wallets but we should however know better and open our hearts. Two wrongs don't make a right and in this case the wrong is equal to hatred. There are others around the World who suffer from many of the same ailments as our very own community. We should show understanding and compassion to those people, even if they do not show it to us or to their very own. Only by setting an example may we make a difference and not by bickering or by inaction. Recon have worked hard to make a difference and I again will reiterate that they should be commended and not vilified for showing a sincere form of charity. Shame on anyone who sees it any different. Really.

[SayNoMore2Africa]

I didn't support Recon's effort with my money and after this week's news out of Malawi and the nasty things that were said about the LGBT community by their people (government or not) I am 100% glad I didn't. Many of us in the USA are writing our elected officials and DEMANDING that all financial support to African countries be STOPPED IMMEDIATELY until there are some basic human rights criteria enacted to make sure that never again do our tax dollars go to regimes/countries that do not recognize basic human rights. It is sad that in the interim people may suffer but the end goal of dignity and respect for all, especially ending the unjust persecution of gay men and women, is justifiable.

[Phil Ross]

Here is the comment received on this query (misplaced priorities) from RECON:
Dear Ross,
Thank you for your email.
The charity ride is for people living with HIV in Malawi. The money they raise for Action Aid, doesn't go to the government but to the NGO itself. Some of the activities that Action Aid sponsors is in regards to sexual health, teaching the men and women, regardless of their sexual orientation about safe sex and how to protect themselves and stopping the spread of HIV.
We do think this is a great charity and while it is very unfortunate that the government and judicial system in Malawi is unfair, this doesn't mean that the people within this country do not deserve any help and we are very proud to be involved in this project.
Kind Regards
James Recon Support

[KAKE]

Treat others the way you want to be treated and not the way you once were.

Recon should be commended for setting such a progressive and thoughtful example.