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U.S. Lawmakers Press Obama on Uganda


WASHINGTON DC CAPITOL SENATE X390 (PHOTOS.COM) | ADVOCATE.COM

Nearly 90 Congress members have signed on to a letter that will be delivered to President Barack Obama Wednesday urging him to publicly oppose a bill in Uganda that would impose the death penalty for certain acts of homosexuality.

"We consider this to be an international human rights issue, requiring a strong response by you and the United States," begins the letter, an effort that was spearheaded by out represenatives Jared Polis, Tammy Baldwin, and Barney Frank.

Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the new legislation would extend the punishment for engaging in gay sex to life imprisonment and introduce the death penalty for those who do so repeatedly or while HIV-positive — acts termed "aggravated homosexuality” within the bill.

The letter applauds previous statements from both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the White House condemning the pending legislation but asks President Obama to go further.

"Specifically, we ask that you speak out publicly against this proposed legislation to bring further attention to the issue. Also, given your popularity in Africa, speaking out publicly against Uganda and Rwanda’s proposed anti-homosexual legislation is likely to garner more concern and attention from not only African nations but internationally. We further ask that you give diplomatic weight to your call for homosexuality to be decriminalized worldwide. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties prohibit discrimination and specify that all enjoy the right to privacy, over 80 countries currently have in place sodomy laws or other legal provisions that criminalize the LGBT community. We believe that standing up for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, reflects the fundamental precepts of our country."

The letter goes on to ask President Obama to disclose the efforts his administration has taken since last March to help move other countries toward fully protecting the rights of their LGBT citizens.

Full text of the letter can be read after the jump.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Camilo
    Date posted: 1/26/2010 10:00:30 PM
    Hometown: Tallahassee

    Comment:

    Dear Sisters and Brothers: In the name of honesty, I I take offense to some comments decrying religion as the cause for bigotry. As much as I respect those who may disagree with me, I must make my case clear. If religions disappeared, people would till find reasons to persecute those who they fear are different from them. There is strong undercurrent of homophobia, xenophobia, and other phobias around the world. These social phenomenas are not caused by religions. They exist on their own. Since the beginning of human history, men have taken up arms against their "neighbors" and all who they felt posed a threat to the social fabric of their land. Most religions around the world support peace and love, and have certain moral codes. Most religions around the world are he result of of our longing as Humans for truth, freedom, peace and love. There is so much to say about this issue, but I feel I have made a case for the existence of religions. Stay blessed everyone and take care

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 1/20/2010 3:41:03 AM
    Hometown: Portland

    Comment:

    Oh yes Uganda, you must listen to America! Gays should not be put to death for just being what they are, they should be allowed to exist as second class human beings like we allow them to do here! WHO the HELL is the united states to preach about civil rights to anyone when we can't even get our own shit together!? Seriously though... I feel hoorible for Uganda, this is what happens when people over-indulge in religion, they start to believe they have the right to decide who can live and who can die, all in the name if "god". And yes it is religion that has motivated Uganda to do this, and there are churches right here in the US that support their genocide! I always knew religion was a social disorder, but this proves that point very clearly.

  • Name: Thom
    Date posted: 1/19/2010 7:36:21 PM
    Hometown: Florida

    Comment:

    O has done next to nothing for America's gays. On what moral authority can this man or nation speak given the fact that it continues to treat it's gay citizens as undeserving of the rights guaranteed under the Constitution? Crickets or empty rhetoric. Does it make a difference?



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