Uganda to jail people who identify as LGBTQ in one of world's most anti-gay laws

[Leroy N. Soetoro]

<https://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1165317598/uganda-lgbtq-law>

LAGOS, Nigeria — Uganda's parliament has passed some of the most sweeping
anti-LGBTQ legislation in the world. Same-sex acts were already unlawful
in Uganda, but on Tuesday night, lawmakers voted to ban identifying as
LGBTQ+, or the so-called promotion of gay identity.

In a packed chamber, lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of
legislation called the anti-homosexuality bill, with only two of the
nearly 400 representatives voting against it.

"Congratulations," said Speaker Anita Among. "Whatever we are doing, we
are doing it for the people of Uganda."

Same-sex acts have been criminal in Uganda under British colonial-era
laws, but this new legislation goes much further. So-called aggravated
homosexuality, which includes sex with someone who has HIV could incur the
death penalty. The law would also punish anyone who identifies as gay or
queer, and potentially people or rights groups seen to promote or support
LGBTQ identity.

The legislation has drawn strong criticism from activists and civil rights
organisations within the country.

Ugandan LGBTQ activist Richard Lusimbo told NPR "the LGBTQI community has
basically been told, you can't raise your head, you can't be seen, you
can't be heard"

But for Lusimbo, like many, this legislation is the result of pressure
both from within and outside the country. "From the very start, this whole
bill coming into Uganda was because of, for example, American evangelicals
who would come to Uganda. And what's happening in Uganda is not just in
isolation"

Homosexuality is criminalized in more than 30 of Africa's 54 countries.

International condemnation has been swift.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted that the bill "would
undermine fundamental human rights of all Ugandans." He added, "We urge
the Ugandan Government to strongly reconsider the implementation of this
legislation."

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said
Washington is "watching this real closely," and did not rule out possible
economic "repercussions" if the legislation is implemented.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called it a
"deeply troubling development."

"If signed into law by the president, it will render lesbian, gay and
bisexual people in Uganda criminals simply for existing, for being who
they are," he said. "It could provide carte blanche for the systematic
violation of nearly all of their human rights and serve to incite people
against each other."

Uganda passed a previous anti-homosexuality law in 2014 but the courts
struck it down on procedural grounds, following outrage in Uganda and from
international donors.

Human Rights Watch called the new legislation a "more egregious version."

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has spoken in support of the
legislation, is expected to sign it into law.



--
"LOCKDOWN", left-wing COVID fearmongering. 95% of COVID infections
recover with no after effects.

No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.

Donald J. Trump, cheated out of a second term by fraudulent "mail-in"
ballots. Report voter fraud: sf.n...@mail.house.gov

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.