WATCH: Hillary Clinton Criticizes "Oppressive" Anti-Gay Ugandan Bill

Speaking today at Georgetown University, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a number of remarks on worldwide LGBT rights. (Full text HERE) Clinton described the proposed Ugandan bill that seeks the death penalty for gays as "oppressive" and expanded after her remarks:

There have been organized efforts to kill and maim gays and lesbians in some countries that we have spoken out about, and also conveyed our very strong concerns about to their governments... Then the example that I used of a piece of legislation in Uganda which would not only criminalize homosexuality but attach the death penalty to it. We have expressed our concerns directly, indirectly, and we will continue to do so. The bill has not gone through the Ugandan legislature, but it has a lot of public support by various groups, including religious leaders in Uganda. And we view it as a very serious potential violation of human rights.

So it is clear that across the world this is a new frontier in the minds of many people about how we protect the LGBT community, but it is at the top of our list because we see many instances where there is a very serious assault on the physical safety and an increasing effort to marginalize people. And we think it’s important for the United States to stand against that and to enlist others to join us in doing so.

Clinton also named Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Nigeria as having "serious" human rights violations toward its LGBT citizens. In 2007, the Nigeian parliament proposed extreme anti-gay legislation similar to the Ugandan bill. Thankfully, that has stalled under international pressure.

Clinton becomes the most senior member of the Obama Administration to personally speak against the bill. On Friday evening, after weeks of prodding, the White House finally issued a statement condemning the legislation.

Full text of Secretary Clinton's remarks are HERE. Watch the secretary's remarks AFTER THE JUMP.

Comments

[Isis]

You're a little LATE too Hillary, but you DID speak out at an actual event. I applaud you for that.........

[Robguy]

"but it has a lot of public support by various groups, including religious leaders in Uganda."

... and don't forget the religious leaders in the US.

[CC]

I find it funny how heteros around the world blame their woes on the LGBT community, as if they aren't the ones raping and spreading the disease in their own communities.

[alicia banks]

i love hc

and i pray she runs in 2012!

nomobama!!!

[mjolnir202]

Apparently, now Rwanda, Uganda's neighbor, is joining the hate the gays crowd and is considering criminalizing homosexuality.

Here is the link: http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/takeaction/resourcecenter/1048.html

Yes, Rwanda, that went through a bloody genocide 15 years ago is back on the hate path. Hmmm...I guess, this can finally unite the Tutsis and Hutus again.

The human capacity for hate seems to have no limit. In many ways this is worse than Uganda because of Rwanda's more recent and bloody history. It's like they've learned nothing.

[Steve]

It's nice that she can have her cake and eat it. Hillary has a connection to "the family", the K Street religious group who have directly influenced the events in Uganda. She has written of Doug Coe, The Family's publicity-averse leader, that he is "a unique presence in Washington: a genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone, regardless of party or faith, who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God."
Hillary Clinton connected to The Family? Never heard of it. That certainly would have made all the recent news reports on Uganda. Nice try, tho. RM

[Jason]

This is the effects of cultural colonialism from centuiries of European and ameican Oppression on Africa. I do blame Uganda for this beastly attack. It is Hitler and Stalin at its best in embodided by the "Motherland" Well this mother must be Madea. Who devours her young. I do not pray for its demise but rather Urge everyone to get involved and Say that we will not stand for anymore genocide anywhere. I nnocent blood will not be shed for religous purposes. This is also scrae tactics that are nostalgic of Europeans in africa. and the effects of that education still loom today. One of my friends is striving to become a diplomat for this forsaken continent yet i am on the fence. The wounds are to deep and have grown infectious.

[Steve]

RM
I didn't make up the Hillary connection to the family, it comes from The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/ehrenreich
march 19, 2008 piece. i'm astounded that your perspective is that it must be false because no one reported it recently. the majority of your stories are ones that i don't see covered anywhere else. i don't doubt their veracity because of their lack of coverage.