Ugandan President backs down from reintroducing the Anti-Gay Bill

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has backed off reinstating the anti-gay law. His reasons have to do with everyone boycotting his country.

In August, the constitutional court overturned it, bringing some hope back to Uganda. There were threats on the bill returning, but that's all out the door for now. Funny, how Yoweri changed his mind after meeting with President Obama.

I wonder if something was said. Who knows, but I guess reality set in that if they brought that bill back, a trade boycott would've been in order.

So, in this situation, money talked.

The Obama Administration Comes for Uganda over their Anti-Gay Law

It just got real, folks.

The US Government are taking steps to combat Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, or AHA. Earlier in the year, President Obama voiced his disappointment of Uganda's choice to be assholes about the LGBT community.

Now, folks got together and unleashed some fury on Uganda.

Get into the steps after the jump (via White House Press Release)

Secretary Kerry spoke with Ugandan President Museveni

Yesterday, Secretary Kerry talked to Uganda's President Museveni about their Anti-gay law.

Here's the press release:

Readout of Secretary Kerry’s Call with Ugandan President Museveni

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Ugandan President Museveni yesterday via phone. Secretary Kerry expressed the United States’ deep disappointment in the Ugandan Government’s decision to enact the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The Secretary noted that the decision complicates the U.S. relationship with Uganda. He also raised U.S. concerns that this discriminatory law poses a threat to the safety and security of Uganda’s LGBT community, and urged President Museveni to ensure the safety and protection of all Ugandan citizens. The two also discussed the law’s negative impact on public health efforts including those to address HIV/AIDS, as well as on tourism and foreign investment in Uganda.

I love that pressure is coming from all over about this, but we need more. Something has to give.

Ugandan President signs Anti-Gay Bill, White House Responds

Mess!

President Museveni signed the Anti-gay bill into law today, making it legal to imprison the LGBT community for being themselves. This act has already caused a firestorm in other nations who have warned them not to sign in this bill.

As soon as this happened, the White House responded:

Instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice, and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, Ugandan President Museveni took Uganda a step backward by signing into law legislation criminalizing homosexuality. As President Obama has said, this law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS. We will continue to urge the Ugandan government to repeal this abhorrent law and to advocate for the protection of the universal human rights of LGBT persons in Uganda and around the world.

This is a horrifying law and very dangerous for our fam in Uganda.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni pauses on Signing the Anti-Gay Bill Again

President Yoweri Museveni has paused on signing the Anti-gay bill in Uganda. Mostly because of President Obama's concerns and others speaking out about the bill.

Museveni wrote in the Ugandan Observer:

After my statement to that effect which was quoted widely around the World, I got reactions from some friends from outside Africa. Statements like: “it is a matter of choice” or “whom they love” which President Obama repeated in his statement would be most furiously rejected by almost the entirety of our people.

It cannot be a matter of choice for a man to behave like a woman or vice-versa. The argument I had pushed was that there could be people who are born like that or “who they are”, according to President Obama’s statement.

I, therefore, encourage the US government to help us by working with our Scientists to study whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual. When that is proved, we can review this legislation.

I would be among those who will spearhead that effort. That is why I had refused to sign the Bill until my premise was knocked down by the position of our Scientists.

I would like to discourage the USA government from taking the line that passing this law will “complicate our valued relationship” with the USA as President Obama said. Countries and Societies should relate with each other on the basis of mutual respect and independence in decision making.

Could more outreach eventually change his mind?

Ambassador Susan Rice expresses her Disappointment of the Ugandan President

Spoke at length with President Museveni last night to urge him not to sign anti-LGBT bill. #Uganda
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 16, 2014

Told him it will be huge step backward for Uganda and the world.
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 16, 2014

People everywhere deserve freedom, justice, and equality. No one should be discriminated against for who they are or whom they love.
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 16, 2014

Deeply saddened this decision will put many at risk and stain Uganda's reputation.
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 16, 2014

Uganda President Declares "War On Homosexual Lobby" and the Crowd Cheers - WATCH

He signs the Anti-Gay bill and the crowd goes wild... SMH

Damn! Ugandan President will Sign Anti-Gay Bill

Oh man!

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni could've stop the foolishness of their Anti-Gay law, but he didn't.

Word is, he will sign the bill into law. Now, according to this messy law, a LGBT person can spend up to a lifetime in jail for being themselves. I thought there was hope that he could denounce it, but... Well, damn.

Why would they do this, especially after a bunch of countries told them that it was a bad idea? Uganda, get over yourselves!

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Ugandan President blocks the Anti-Gay Bill

Whoa!

Ugandan President Museveni blocked the Anti-Gay Bill today. His reason for doing this was due to the bill being passed without quorum.

President Museveni advised this bill to be shelved before the end of 2013. He believed that the bill needed to be looked at thoroughly before being considered. Once, he learned of this issue, he was not happy.

He said:

"Some elements, however, insisted and even without quorum of Parliament, passed it. How can you pass law without the quorum of Parliament after it has been pointed out? What sort of Parliament is this? How can Parliament be the one to break the Constitution and the Law repeatedly?”

The President still believes being gay is abnormal and has interesting views about being recruited to be gay. However, he wasn't so keen on this bill being passed and possibly provided a tad bit of hope for the LGBT community there.

I'm sure there's more to come on this fascinating development.

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Ugandan President will not Rush to sign the Anti-Gay into Law

After the messy Anti-gay bill passed in Uganda, haters knew the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni would sign it quickly... But that hasn't happened.

In fact, he wants to carefully read it through. His spokesperson Tamale Mirundi said:

"There has been pressure from religious leaders and parliament to sign the bill into law. Museveni won't rush to assent the bill before he studies it. … President Museveni is a practical president, he takes decisions based on analysis and not on how many support or are against it."

There's a bit of hope... maybe.

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Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni will Lighten the Anti-gay Bill

After much criticism, Ugandan President Museveni vows to soften the Anti-gay bill.

In its current form, the bill proposes life imprisonment and even the death penalty for gays and lesbians in Uganda.

Museveni's top aide said on Thursday that the president was planning to intervene to address the concerns of Uganda's Western partners who have expressed strong opposition to the bill.

"We should not have an extreme position. The president will harmonize the two sides and address the concerns of the Europeans and our other development partners." said Museveni's spokesman.

Cute, but if they just get rid of this bill, all will be good in the 'hood.