Report: Ugandan Bill to Execute Gays "Likely" to Pass

Reuters publishes an unfortunate update to the despicable pending legislation in Uganda that has been extensively covered on Rod 2.0:

Activists and political observers expect the private members' bill, which prescribes the death penalty for "serial offenders" and is still in the committee stage, to pass with little opposition and some minor changes. Likely changes may include modifying the death penalty to life imprisonment, altering clauses nullifying international treaties, conventions and protocols that contradict the act, and removing a section about extradition. "It's catastrophic," said Frank Mugisha, chairman of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a local activist group. "People are being arrested, intimidated already. What's going to happen if it's passed"

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is part of an extreme state-sponsoredcampaign of terror against gays in lesbians in Uganda, encouraged by conservative American Christian missionaries and partially funded by your tax dollars. Critics both inside and outside the tiny East African nation say President Yoweri Museveni is trying to divert attention from rampant corruption ahead of the 2011 national vote. Museveni who only last week said "European homosexuals are recruiting in Africa", is pushing for Uganda's membership in OPEC and reportedly "trying to whittle down [Western] donor influence."

Speaking of that: Sweden has just announced it's cutting aid to Uganda over the legislation:

"According to comments attributed to Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s development assistance minister, the Swedish government says it would cut aid to Uganda over an anti-gay law they find 'appalling'. 'My number two at the ministry, who has direct contact with the Ugandan government, has brought it up,' Ms Carlsson recently told Swedish Radio News. 'We’ve talked about it in Uganda, and I’ve also tried to speak to the kind of organisations in Uganda that are the target of the legislation.' Uganda receives about $50 million in development aid from Sweden annually. Swedish Radio News reported online, in a November 30 article, that the Scandinavian country would consider discontinuing development aid to Uganda if the law was introduced."

The prime ministers of Canada and Great Britain voiced their displeasure with Museveni. The United States has no official comment on the proposed Ugandan law that would execute gays.

Some Background ...

Uganda Law Would Execute HIV+ Gays, Will Obama Cut AIDS Funds?
Uganda's Museveni: European Gays "Recruiting" in Africa
Uganda: Death Penalty for "Aggravated Homosexuality"
Anti-Gay Activists March on Parliament
Uganda Anti-Gay Conference Day Two
UG Anti-Gay Conference
Rare Court Victory for Uganda Gays
Uganda Launches Major Anti-Gay Offensive
Uganda' Muslim Cleric: Exile Gays
Uganda Ethics Minister Advises Gays to Leave

Comments

[Nathan James]

"The United States has had no official comment on the proposed Ugandan law that would execute gay men."

Here in the United States, our government isn't as psychotically homophobic as Uganda's, but recent events strongly suggest a trend in that direction. DOMA is still on the books, and 31 states (Including New York) have denied marriage equality to the LGBT community. Given the anti-gay attitudes of so many of our own elected officials, it should come as no surprise that there hasn't been a condemnation of Uganda's bloodthirsty, homophobic activities.

[Brien]

We are fighting on all fronts: equality at home and horrific laws internationally. Let's do all we can, in our own way, to contribute to the fight!!!

[QH]

I'm speechless on this. Jesus man...-QH

[Tim Lee]

@Rod - Thanks mate, for covering things that just aren't making onto the mainstream media in any real way. What a horrible tragedy. The silence of the President and the Secretary of State are shameful. It is one thing for redoubtable religious figures to capitulate to this holocost, but where is our political leadership?

[History Major]

Good thing 1 billion dollars are going into Afghanistan.

[johnozed]

We must not give up. We must not relent. We must fight for the rights of our brothers and sisters all over the world.

[Tom Fyller]

[What a bizarre rant. If you don't like an advertiser, fine. Don't click on the ad or you're free to leave the site. But you don't tell me which ads to place. And to leave threatening comments over advertising... in a story about gay men being executed in Africa? Trifling and sad. -RM]