News :: GLBT
Half a million sign against Ugandan ’kill the gays’ bill
by Rex Wockner
Bay Windows Contributor
Monday Mar 8, 2010
Half a million people signed a petition that was delivered to Ugandan Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi on March 1 opposing the pending bill that would jail gays for life and punish some with the death penalty.
The petition campaign was spearheaded by an HIV-positive Anglican priest, Canon Gideon Byamugisha, along with other religious leaders and HIV activists, including former Anglican Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo.
"In the interests of safer, healthier, more peaceful, and more prosperous lives for all Ugandans; we as Aids Service Providers, pastors and spiritual mentors of all Ugandans are calling for the withdrawal of this Bill from Parliament," the petition read in part. "We are united in opposing this Bill because if passed into law it threatens the health, peace and well being of Ugandan citizens and goes against the Ugandan Constitution."
The "Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009" would imprison for life anyone convicted of "the offense of homosexuality," punish "aggravated homosexuality" -- including repeat offenders and anyone who is HIV-positive and has gay sex -- with the death penalty, forbid "promotion of homosexuality" and incarcerate gay-rights defenders, and jail individuals in positions of authority for up to three years if they fail to report within 24 hours the existence of all LGBT people or sympathizers known to them.
|
|
|
