There is a troublesome update to the extreme state-sponsored campaign of terror against gays in lesbians in Uganda. Earlier this week it was announced a "refined" Anti Homosexuality Bill would be submitted to Parliament that would not seek the death penalty or life imprisonment for gays. Not so, says MP David Bahati, the sponsor of the bill, who tells The Guardian the draconian penalties will not be dropped.
There is wide support for Bahati's law which, while being an extreme piece of anti-gay legislation, is not unique.... The Ugandan bill extends existing laws to make it illegal to promote homosexuality by talking or writing about it, and forcing people to tell the authorities about anyone they know who is gay. The bill, said Bahati, 35, an MP from the ruling party, aims to "protect the cherished culture of the people of Uganda against the attempts of sexual rights activists seeking to impose their values of sex promiscuity on the people of Uganda". He denied reports that international pressure might result in parts of the bill being toned down. "We are not going to yield to any international pressure – we cannot allow people to play with the future of our children and put aid into the game. We are not in the trade of values. "
The Guardian notes the irony in Bahati's statement: Despite claiming to be immune to outside influences, it was actually American social conservative missionaries to Uganda that encouraged the Anti Homosexuality Bill. Only three days ago and after weeks of silence, one of those evangelicals, the influential Pastor Rick Warren, released a videotaped message condemning the bill MP Bahati expressed his disappointment: "It's unfortunate that a man of God who has inspired many people across the world can give in to pressure and disappoint them."
On late Friday evening, the White House also finally released a statement denouncing the bill, weeks after formal protests had been lodged by Britain, Canada, Sweden and other nations.
