The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, met with LGBTQ+ campaigner Peter Tatchell last night (Wednesday, February 7) in Parliament and has agreed to press the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, to ban the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Anita Among, from entering Britain.
Acting at the request of Ugandan LGBTQ+ campaigners, Mr Tatchell made the request for an entry ban and told Sir Lindsay Hoyle:
“Anita Among promoted the new Ugandan law that makes some consenting same-sex acts punishable by execution. This murderous persecution of LGBTQ+ people violates the values of respect, tolerance, equality and human rights that Britain and its parliament seek to uphold. Her presence in the UK would not be conducive to public order, harmonious community relations and the public good. The Home Secretary should use his powers to exclude her from Britain.”
Following these representations, Speaker Hoyle is now arranging to meet the Home Secretary to put the case for Anita Among to be denied entry to attend UK events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth in March.
In response, Peter Tatchell said: “I thank Sir Lindsay for hearing our concerns and agreeing to take action to ensure that this odious politician, who advocates the killing of LGBTQ+ people, is not welcome in Parliament – or anywhere in the UK.”
“There should be no facilitation of, and collusion with, a politician who has blood on her hands.”
Sir Lindsay had been expected to host the Speakers of Commonwealth Parliaments, including Anita Among, at the House of Commons in March.
In a letter addressed to Speaker Hoyle, Peter Tatchell urged that she be disinvited. He highlighted Among’s leading role in the legislation of Uganda’s draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) 2023, widely dubbed the “Kill the Gays” law.
It includes mandatory life imprisonment for consenting same-sex acts, up to 20 years jail for advocating LGBTQ+ equality and the death penalty for repeat homosexual offenders and for homosexuality involving a person aged 75 and over – which effectively paves the way for the execution of elderly same-sex couples.
Since the enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act last year, Ugandan LGBTQ+ rights organisations have reported a disturbing surge in violence and discrimination against LGBTs. The law has fostered an environment of fear and persecution, leading to beatings, sexual and psychological violence, evictions, blackmail, loss of employment, and denial of access to healthcare based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Among’s presence in the UK would send a terrible signal that Britain tolerates the extreme homophobia of those to advocate the killing of LGBTQ+ people. There should be no facilitation of, and collusion with, a politician who has blood on her hands,” Mr Tatchell said.
