CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
"
>
"
data-page-title="
A bill that would give harsh punishment to gays and lesbians in Uganda for their sexual orientation
may have a final vote sometime this week as lawmakers finished a second
day of hearings on the matter on Monday.
While the initial version of the bill, introduced in 2009, would have found homosexuality punishable by death, the bill's author, David Bahati, said the Parliament has "moved away" from such a provision, the Associated Press reports. Now, lawmakers are considering a recommendation by prominent Ugandan pastor Martin Ssempa to make homosexuality punishable by up to seven years in prison. Ssempa told the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Monday that he does not agree with the proposed death penalty portion of the law, but he said "homosexuality is killing our society."
Another member of Ugandan clergy, retired Anglican Archbishop Christopher Senyonjo, countered the antigay claims, stating that witch hunts spurred by the bill could turn Uganda into a police state and increase the spread of HIV and AIDS because gay citizens would be too fearful of seeking treatment. He also said it was wrong for others to claim that school children were being recruited to become gay.
Members of Uganda's parliament are working on a final revision of the legislation after years of backlash around the world has put the bill into a prominent light. In addition to the death penalty provision in the early version of the bill, it also mandated a death sentence for anyone living with HIV.
The global LGBT rights group All Out is circulating a petition to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, asking him to veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
"The world is united with human rights activists in Uganda in asking that you publicly declare your intention to veto the Anti-Homosexuality bill," the petition reads. "Don't let this law, and the worsening human rights situation in the country, make Uganda into a pariah in the international community."
"Kill the Gays" Bill Nears Vote
" >From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Latest Stories
Breaking: Donald Trump safe after apparent assassination attempt in Florida
September 15 2024 5:47 PM
Appeals court denies attempt to block Colorado’s conversion therapy ban
September 14 2024 8:36 AM
Pete Buttigieg explains Donald Trump and JD Vance's racist, false pet-eating claims
September 14 2024 8:31 AM
Killer of Minnesota trans woman Savannah Williams sentenced to 30 years
September 14 2024 8:25 AM
Twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir, an HIV-prevention drug, reduces risk by 96%
September 13 2024 5:03 PM
France's first lady Brigitte Macron awarded nearly $9,000 in damages after transvestigation
September 13 2024 3:05 PM
Meta has guidelines to protect against anti-trans content. GLAAD says the company is ignoring them