Act
In The Culture
Issues
Campaigns
Support
About
Advocates For Youth
What can we learn from the cancellation of the prom at Constance McMillen’s Mississippi high school?
Constance rules!
This is why Congress has to pass the Student Non-Discrimination Act
Hope isn’t lost -- look how many folks stepped up to hold a non-discriminatory prom!
All of the above

You must be logged in to vote.
You must be logged in to vote




My Sistahs - A webite by and for young women of color
Youth Resource - A website by and for lgbtq youth
Advocates for Youth - A website for parents, health professionals and educators
AmbienteJoven.org 
Blog - Amplify your voice

Monday, January 4, 2010 at 12:58:00 PM EST
Rating:

 I am shocked by the recent happenings in Uganda.  The African country  Uganda is considering a bill that would impose the death penalty on HIV positive men who have committed what is called "aggravated homosexuality," which basically means having gay sex if you are HIV positive.  Lemme make this clear: you will be PUT TO DEATH for having sex with someone of the same gender if you test positive for HIV, if this bill becomes law.  The punishment for having gay sex in Uganda if you are not HIV positive IS LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

Also, according to this Times Online article, The bill proposes a three-year prison sentence for anyone who is aware of evidence of homosexuality and fails to report it to the police within 24 hours. And it would impose a sentence of up to seven years for anyone who defends the rights of gays and lesbians.

This, my friends, is the most homophobic piece of legislation I have ever heard of in my life.  It is scary.  It makes me angry. If this bill passes, it would be the largest step back for gay rights in a long time.  From this excellent NYT article this morning, 

Anti-gay sentiments are one thing, and hardly unique to Uganda. But what seems different here is the level of official, government-sponsored anti-gay hate speech.

"I detest gays in my heart", said Kassiano E. Wadri, a member of Parliament and the chief whip of the opposition. “When I see a gay, I think that person needs psychotherapy. You need to break him."

In the same NYT article, which goes over some personal stories of Ugandan's who have to deal with this on a daily basis, they report this about a trans-man's experience:

A policeman jabbed a finger in his eye, he said, someone threw a beer in his face at a bar, and a security guard at a minimarket pistol-whipped him simply for trying to buy groceries.
I glad that the United States opposes this bill, and I am grateful that I have the freedom to speak out against this bill with out fear of being arrested.  We all have this freedom in America, and I think it is our duty to use it.  You can write a letter to Obama urging him to help stop Uganda's dangerously homophobic new bill, but thankfully the White House has issued this statement:
The President strongly opposes efforts, such as the draft law pending in Uganda, that would criminalize homosexuality and move against the tide of history,” (via The Advocate) 
You can talk to your friends about this and alert them to the dangers of this new bill. You can donate money (even a very small amount) to groups that have been active in opposing this bill.  As activists, we have the freedom to speak out, and let us make sure this legislation does not pass.  

Comments
Thanks for writing about this.  I've been seeing facebook groups pop up in opposition to this bill for a month or so, but before the NYT article, had yet to read any comprehensive evaluation of what the bill actually is, and how it came into being.

This is even more frustrating to me, because unlike legislation in the US, I feel like there's not much I can actually do to oppose it, beyond "raising awareness" and just my own ideology.  The US and Americans can encourage Uganda to resist homophobia, but we don't have a good enough track record, really, with civil rights to merit much respect as an international watchdog.  
# Posted By  Leah627 | 1/4/10 10:12 PM | Report | Reply
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            
In case you've been wondering...
By drs0043
0 comments

Justin's First Kiss: "Ugly Betty" takes us one step closer to equality
By AFY_Will
1 comments

I don't know.
By Bella_Faye
1 comments

Parents Gone Bad
By CP3
1 comments

Open Mic:"Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!"
By Exclusive1
2 comments

Black Pro-Lifers Say Abortion "Genocide"
By kirbygirl87
1 comments

My Weekend Building a Movement
By Mahayana
0 comments

question i hope is answered
By confused_190
3 comments

Own Your Number
By kathleenmysistahs
0 comments

Little Freak, Really??
By Reneex10
1 comments

Why Would Somebody Abandon Their Baby?
By lilraheem
1 comments

Abandoned Naked Baby Found in the Cold
By bigkev
1 comments

Baby Found in the Cold
By dstyles3
1 comments

A Married Disaster
By CP3
0 comments

Dedicated to Haiti
By NicoleSheri
0 comments

Abandoned New Born
By WillTheSpacekid
1 comments

Hey It's Nicole!!!
By NicoleSheri
2 comments

Lobbying in Springfield, Illinois - March 11-12, 2010 Experience with ICAH
By latinablueeyes
0 comments

Open Mic:"Something you probably didn't know..."
By Exclusive1
1 comments

The beging of My story (With REALLY bad grammar)
By Bella_Faye
3 comments

Global Youth Service Day: "Tujijue" Expedition Camp 2010
By Pok
1 comments

Dear White House: Please add this to your website.
By allyouneedislove
2 comments

Australia Recognizes Persons with "Sex Not Specified"
By kirbygirl87
1 comments

Tiger Woods Wood for Sell: Glamorizing Sexual "Infedelity" or "Having Fun"
By kirbygirl87
0 comments

Goodbyes & Hellos
By Music_And_Musings
2 comments