Final Blog: Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill

I decided to do my blog this week on a situation starting to arise in Uganda concerning their Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The bill was recently placed on the Ugandan parliament’s agenda for discussion and has the support of the speaker, as well as other parliamentarians. They declared that its passage in December would be a “Christmas gift” to the people of Uganda. Human Rights First has opposition to this bill because it will have adverse consequences for the human rights of gay, bisexual, gay, transgender, and intersex people. Currently in Uganda, same-sex relations are already illegal, but this bill proposed tougher penalties not only for the LGBTI community but those who assist them. It can have affect with their health care practitioners, and it establishes a dangerous precedent for the persecution of other minority groups in the country.

This bill was first introduced in 2009, and currently the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is scheduled to be discussed before the parliament as a high priority bill. This means that the lawmakers could pass the legislation before December 15^th, when they will have recess.  

With the bill’s discussion growing very closely, supporters of the LGBTI community have called onto President Obama to stop the passing of the legislation, in hope of killing the piece of legislation. Human Rights First’s Paul LeGendre was quoted by saying, “We call on President Obama and Secretary Clinton to work toward preventing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill from coming to a vote in the Ugandan Parliament,” and continued by adding, “They should also reiterate their serious concerns to Ugandan President Museveni, whose signature would be required for the bill to take effect.”  This group commends Obama and his Administration for their opposition to this bill, since it was introduced in 2009. They have been also very appreciative of President Obama’s efforts to counter laws that criminalize same-sex relations. They believe that this is a key part of Obama’s memorandum on international advances towards the rights of the LGBTI community. They called upon Secretary Clinton for her efforts to speak out against human rights abusers, and those based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  

Human Right First are supporting the efforts made by human rights group and fellow Ugandans who oppose the bill, and are hoping to get assistance from the Obama Administration to help their efforts. A Ugandan civil society leader, Julius Kaggwa was quoted by saying, “Now is the time for the international community to express solidarity with LGBTI Ugandans.”

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/human-rights-group-asks-obama-to-help-stop-ugandas-kill-the-gays-bill/politics/2012/11/27/54714