Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill will become law by the end of 2012.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill was first introduced as a private member’s bill by MP David Bahati in October 2009. Bahati is an evangelical Christian and a member of the Fellowship Foundation, also known as The Family, a US-based Christian and political organisation which arranges the annual prestigious National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.
The law will broaden the criminalisation of same-sex relationships by dividing homosexuality into two categories: aggravated homosexuality and the offense of homosexuality.
Aggravated homosexuality is defined as gay acts committed by parents or authority figures, HIV-positive people, paedophiles and repeat offenders. If convicted, they will face the death penalty.
The offense of homosexuality includes same-sex sexual acts or being in a gay relationship, and will be prosecuted by life imprisonment.
The Bill had been temporarily shelved because of international criticism. Several European countries have threatened to cut aid to Uganda if it passes, with the UK government warning Uganda it would face severe reductions in financial help.
US President Barack Obama has described the Bill as “odious”, and Canadian politician John Baird has said it is “vile, abhorrent, and offends decency”.
The UK gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT) is appalled to learn the news.
Their secretary, George Broadhead, said:
“We are appalled that after such a long time this heinous piece of legislation will still become law. Much of the homophobic bigotry which is rife in Uganda and other African countries emanates from religious sources, including US evangelical Christians.
“It certainly emanates from the Anglican Church of Uganda which states on its website: “The Church of Uganda appreciates the spirit of the Bill’s objective of protecting the family, especially in light of a growing propaganda to influence younger people to accept homosexuality as a legitimate way of expressing human sexuality. We particularly appreciate the objectives of the Bill which seek to: provide for marriage in Uganda as contracted only between a man and woman; prohibit and penalize homosexual behaviour and related practices in Uganda as they constitute a threat to the traditional family; prohibit ratification of any international treaties, conventions, protocols, agreements and declarations which are contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of the Act; prohibit the licensing of organizations which promote homosexuality.’ Unfortunately the vast majority of the population are committed Christians and clearly greatly influenced by these malign bible-based policies.”
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