Source: AFP
An official with the US Embassy in Kampala, Uganda, has said that the new Anti-Homosexuality Bill, if enacted into law, would “mark a major setback in the promotion of human rights.”
We urge states to take all necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests, or detention.
Ugandan Ethics Minister James Nsaba Buturo spoke with journalists today. While acknowledging the great numbers of “foreigners” who express grave concern over the possibility of such a bill becoming law, he made it clear that he is not paying attention to them.
Buturo balked at the notion that the proposed bill — which, among other things, would criminalise any public discussion of homosexuality and could penalise an individual who knowingly rented property to a homosexual — constituted a human rights violation.
“We are really getting tired of this phrase human rights. It is being abused. Anything goes, and if you are challenged? ‘Oh, it’s my right’,” the minister snapped.
The proposed bill would have wide ranging effects, making it a crime to even know a gay or lesbian in Uganda without reporting them to the authorities. Public discussion of GLBT issues would come to a full stop as that too could be punished as “promoting” homosexuality.
A Facebook group on this issue has been set up by Warren Throckmorton and has approx 700 members at last count.
I thought it was interesting that Warren Throckmorton’s group consists of dozens of people from Sweden, numerous gay equality advocates, and a handful of ex-gays who support criminalization of homosexuality.
I am glad that Prof. Throckmorton is making the effort and I trust that he is sincere, but the fact that he has 700 group members does not yet make me optimistic that a groundswell of conservative Christians will rebel against the incendiary and violent activities of Exodus, Scott Lively, Stephen Langa, Richard Cohen, Martin Ssempa, and Rick Warren.
Yeah… and where is Rick Warren? Last I see of him on the Net he was awarding someone for designing a new book cover for him. I guess he cannot be bothered. The Catholic Church stance is that criminalization of homosexuality should be revoked, but I don’t see the Archbishop of Kampala Archdiocese, Dr. Cypriano Kizito Lwanga, calling for revoking this bill or the current law. But then with the name Lwanga I guess you cannot speak out in any way for gay people/homosexuality. Look up Saint Charles Lwanga if you do not know what I am talking about.
Yes, those are so annoying when you want to persecute people.
The Taoiseach (Prime Minister) is also my local TD (MP). I wrote him my first letter last week. I think I’ll be sending him my next letter tomorrow. I’ve forgotten who the Minister for Foreign Affairs is. I must look him up and send him one too.
And the local and national papers.
TRiG.
Thank you for drawing the attention of the international community to Uganda’s anti-Homosexuality Bill. I urge you to pay closer attention to the political intent of the Bill referred to at this blog:
https://mbu-nugu.blogspot.com/2009/11/political-purpose-of-anti-homosexuality_19.html