Uganda to Jail, Execute Gays

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In one of the most outrageous examples of state-sponsored hate laws the Uganda legislature is on the verge of passing a bill imposing heavy criminal penalties ranging from prison terms to life imprisonment to death on its gay citizens.

How serious is this? One example from the Washington Post:

“As Episcopalians in America were electing their second gay bishop, their Anglican cousins in Uganda were embroiled in controversial legislation that would put those bishops in prison for life, or condemn them to death.”

[newsweek.washingtonpost.com]

While writing this article, another blog updated the story stating that the death penalty was removed from the legislation. If true, a lucky sop to threatened multinational trade sanctions. Debate on the bill continues and reports on its provisions change daily if not hourly.

A compendium of its measures as summarized by several news organizations:

> Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

> Death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. "Serial offenders" also could face capital punishment.

[12/8/09 AP]

> Gays and lesbians convicted of having gay sex would be sentenced, at minimum, to life in prison.

> People who test positive for HIV may be executed.

> Homosexuals who have sex with a minor, or engage in homosexual > sex more than once, may also receive the death penalty.

> The bill forbids the "promotion of homosexuality," which in effect bans organizations working in HIV and AIDS prevention.

> Anyone who knows of homosexual activity taking place but does not report it would risk up to three years in prison.

[12/8/09 CNN]

> … [A] death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. "Serial offenders" also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

> Anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality" faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with "religious, political, economic or social authority" who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

[12/8/09 MSNBC]

> "In addition to outlawing 'any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex' with penalties up to life imprisonment, the proposed bill criminalizes attempted homosexuality, the aiding and abetting of homosexuality, and promotion of homosexuality -- each carrying a possible prison sentence of seven years.

> Failure to disclose an offense is also punishable by a fine and three years in prison. And anyone with knowledge of crimes committed is obligated to report them to the authorities within 24 hours.

> The legislation also creates a new category of offense, 'aggravated homosexuality,' which is punishable with death. The latter crime would include having homosexual sex with a minor or someone with a disability or having homosexual sex while HIV positive (the bill makes no distinction about whether offenders must be knowingly infected to qualify)."

[12/7 The Washington Post]

Uganda is the latest country joining the backlash bandwagon against gay people in Africa as spreaders of AIDS while African gays become more vocal in protest. Nigeria already has similar laws in place punishing homosexuality with imprisonment or death. Thanks mostly to Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, the Ugandan hate laws have received mainstream media publicity before becoming law.

Maddow has also exposed direct involvement in this travesty by the American right wing – religious and political.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34337416#34337247

The religious right’s ravings on homosexuality are so trite as to be briefly summarized: Leviticus 18:22.

In addition to the religious right is the political right. Allegedly among those involved with Ugandans pushing for this legislation is Oklahoma Republican Senator James Inhofe. Inhofe, along with other Republican lawmakers, is a member of “The Family”, a sort of spooky 70 year old Christian group running a C Street home for local politicos the likes of Governor Mark Sanford (SC) and Senators John Ensign (NV) and Tom Coburn (OK). The Family has direct ties to its Ugandan sister group behind the legislation.

Joining the religious and political right in supporting the Ugandan bill is the homophobic, cure gayness, lunatic fringe. Maddow’s interview with sexual reorientation advocate Richard Cohen:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34337416#34337416

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There are an estimated 500,000 gay people in Uganda. Imagine a half million people subject to imprisonment or death every hour of their lives solely for living their lives.

While the Ugandan hate crime legislation is debated, also being debated is New Jersey’s gay marriage bill. There are reasons why the Third World is the Third World.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34331632/ns/world_news-africa/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/08/uganda.anti.gay.bill/index.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNOsUTPIL6zoTWAGRTzPqmx3__IgD9CFBHJ00 (AP)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-kapya-kaoma/the-us-christian-right-an_b_387642.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8406602.stm

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/10/28/ugandas_do_ask_do_tell?page=0,0

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/12/ugandas_anti-gay_law_rile_us.html

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