Clinton Condemns Ugandan Antigay Bill

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has condemned an antigay bill in Uganda that would permit death sentences for some gay Ugandans.

In response to an October letter from Wisconsin representative Tammy Baldwin and several Capitol Hill colleagues, Clinton wrote that the bill would "create fear, promote hatred, and potentially divide communities."

"The United States has urged Uganda to take all necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, harassment, or discrimination," Clinton wrote.

Clinton made similar statements in a recent speech, though she did not mention Uganda by name. "We have to stand against any efforts to marginalize and criminalize and penalize members of the LGBT community worldwide," she said in a November 30 speech.

The bill currently pending before the Ugandan parliament calls for life sentences for gay sex and the death penalty for those who repeatedly engage in gay sex or who do so when HIV-positive, among other scenarios.