Time is Short: Stop Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill!
- by: Steve Williams, Care2 Causes Blogger
- recipient: Hon. Stephen Tashobya, Chair of the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee to the Ugandan Parliament
Uganda's lawmakers are once again threatening to pass the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, legislation that, if left unaltered, could mandate the death penalty for "repeat offenders."
The 8th Parliament ends at May's close, and with it the bill will finally die -- if, that is, the bill's author David Bahati and other virulent supporters don't expedite a vote before then.
The legislation currently sits in the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Lawmakers have recently declared that they want an open discourse on the bill, even welcoming input from foreigners. This is our chance to prevent the bill even reaching a floor vote by making our voices heard!
If passed, Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill would start a witch-hunt for homosexuals in the country. Its punishments include:
*A 7-year jail sentence for consenting adults who have gay sex;
*A life sentence for people in same-sex marriages;
*Extradition and prosecution of LGBT Ugandans living abroad;
*The death penalty for adults who have gay sex with minors, consensual or no, or who communicate HIV via gay sex, regardless of condom usage or consent;
*Jail for anyone who doesn't report suspected gay people within 24 hours;
*A ban on the "promotion" of homosexuality which is so open-ended that it would endanger HiV/AIDS treatment and sexual health clinics in the country;
*The ban could also be used to effectively exclude gay people from petitioning the courts by making those representing them liable for criminal action;
*Would break all ties with international commitments and laws opposing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Sign below to ask the Ugandan Parliament to abandon this monstrous bill.
The 8th Parliament ends at May's close, and with it the bill will finally die -- if, that is, the bill's author David Bahati and other virulent supporters don't expedite a vote before then.
The legislation currently sits in the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Lawmakers have recently declared that they want an open discourse on the bill, even welcoming input from foreigners. This is our chance to prevent the bill even reaching a floor vote by making our voices heard!
If passed, Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill would start a witch-hunt for homosexuals in the country. Its punishments include:
*A 7-year jail sentence for consenting adults who have gay sex;
*A life sentence for people in same-sex marriages;
*Extradition and prosecution of LGBT Ugandans living abroad;
*The death penalty for adults who have gay sex with minors, consensual or no, or who communicate HIV via gay sex, regardless of condom usage or consent;
*Jail for anyone who doesn't report suspected gay people within 24 hours;
*A ban on the "promotion" of homosexuality which is so open-ended that it would endanger HiV/AIDS treatment and sexual health clinics in the country;
*The ban could also be used to effectively exclude gay people from petitioning the courts by making those representing them liable for criminal action;
*Would break all ties with international commitments and laws opposing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Sign below to ask the Ugandan Parliament to abandon this monstrous bill.
We the undersigned wish to communicate to you our deepest concerns over the proposed legislation officially termed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 that currently sits under your jurisdiction in the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee to the Ugandan Parliament.
Firstly, the legislation is completely unnecessary given that Uganda already criminalizes homosexual conduct.
Secondly, the legislation is in direct defiance of international law. It has already been made explicitly clear that passing such legislation could impact foreign aid to Uganda, a resource that the Ugandan people desperately need. Respectfully, and mindful of course that a nation must be allowed its autonomy, we ask that you review statements made by members of the United Nations concerning this bill and ensure that these are taken into account.
Thirdly, the legislation is overreaching to the point that it will, if passed, dangerously hamper HIV/AIDS prevention.
Fourth, while we the undersigned have the deepest respect for the sovereignty of the nation of Uganda, we must also point out that such aggressively anti-gay legislation goes beyond simply criminalizing homosexuality -- it actively pursues gay citizens to the point that, under stipulations in the legislation's text, even gay Ugandans that seek safety in another country will be called back to Uganda to face charges over their homosexuality.
As such, we the undersigned urge you to allow this legislation to die in committee and not to advance the bill to a full vote before Parliament.
We sincerely thank you for your time in considering our points and hope that you will make the right decision.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionFirstly, the legislation is completely unnecessary given that Uganda already criminalizes homosexual conduct.
Secondly, the legislation is in direct defiance of international law. It has already been made explicitly clear that passing such legislation could impact foreign aid to Uganda, a resource that the Ugandan people desperately need. Respectfully, and mindful of course that a nation must be allowed its autonomy, we ask that you review statements made by members of the United Nations concerning this bill and ensure that these are taken into account.
Thirdly, the legislation is overreaching to the point that it will, if passed, dangerously hamper HIV/AIDS prevention.
Fourth, while we the undersigned have the deepest respect for the sovereignty of the nation of Uganda, we must also point out that such aggressively anti-gay legislation goes beyond simply criminalizing homosexuality -- it actively pursues gay citizens to the point that, under stipulations in the legislation's text, even gay Ugandans that seek safety in another country will be called back to Uganda to face charges over their homosexuality.
As such, we the undersigned urge you to allow this legislation to die in committee and not to advance the bill to a full vote before Parliament.
We sincerely thank you for your time in considering our points and hope that you will make the right decision.
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