Showing posts with label Ugandan anti-gay bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ugandan anti-gay bill. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Uganda may see another Anti-Gay Bill


Not again...

The Ugandan government may introduce another anti-gay law by the end of the year. If this happens, gay folks could be in jail for seven years for “promoting homosexuality”.

Here's more:
The move comes nearly a year after Ugandan politicians passed legislation that could have imposed life sentences on gays. The bill was struck down by the constitutional court on a technicality. According to a leaked copy of the new draft law, MPs have instead focused on outlawing the “promotion” of homosexuality – a potentially far more repressive and wide-reaching measure. Frank Mugisha, a gay-rights activist, said: “People don’t realise that the ‘promotion’ part of it will affect everybody. If newspapers report about homosexuality it could be seen as promotion. My Twitter account could be seen as promotion. All human rights groups that include LGBT rights defence in their activities could be accused of promotion.” According to the draft, anyone convicted of “promoting” homosexuality would be liable to seven years in prison. “We have confirmed that the draft comes from the cabinet. Their plan is to present it to parliament as soon as possible, before the end of the year,” Mugisha said.
I hope this doesn't happen.

source

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Secretary Kerry will Send Scientists to challenge the Anti-Gay Law in Uganda


Secretary of State John Kerry will send scientists to Uganda to discuss the Anti-Gay law with President Yoweri Museveni.

This came about after Museveni's scientists claimed that no one's born gay. Because of that notion, the Anti-Gay law was signed. However, Secretary Kerry wants to challenge that idea:
"I talked personally to President Museveni just a few weeks ago, and he committed to meet with some of our experts so that we could engage him in a dialogue as to why what he did could not be based on any kind of science or fact, which is what he was alleging. He welcomed that and said that he was happy to receive them and we can engage in that kind of conversation… maybe we can reach a point of reconsideration."
Secretary Kerry's convo with Museveni is noted as the "tailored approach" to the State Department’s developing strategy on international anti-LGBT legislation.

Kerry said:
"There’s been already a review taking place to figure out what the options are as to how we can begin to change minds, move leaders, reach the public, the same kind of education that took place frankly here in our country."
I'm interested to see the outcome of this

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Friday, March 14, 2014

The U.S. restricts Some Aid to Uganda over Anti-Gay Law


Uganda is feeling the heat from America over their Anti-gay law. The US has suspended just some aid to Uganda's ministry of health. This is possibly the first step in our response to Uganda's foolishness.

U.S. government official said, "As a result of this review process, a portion of the U.S. Centre for Disease Control's (CDC) cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Health has been put on hold pending this review." 

No amount has been revealed, but it could be a substantial sum of money.

source

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Human Rights Activists challenge Uganda's Anti-Gay Law

Frank Mugisha

Human rights activists are not having it with Uganda's Anti-Gay law. They have filed a lawsuit against the law, claiming that it violates the right to privacy, the freedom of be, and the right to associate.

The activists involved are Frank Mugisha from Sexual Minorities Uganda and trans activist Julian Pepe Onziema. There are straight politicians involved as well, so it shows proof that the distaste for this law goes beyond LGBT people.

I wish them luck in this quest and hope their safety is intact. To read their petition, please go here


via Buzzfeed

Friday, February 28, 2014

World Bank halts Loan to Uganda over Anti-Gay Law


Oh snap! The World Bank put a stop on a $90m loan to Uganda's health system. Not because they're mean, it's all over Uganda's broke ass Anti-gay law.

World Bank spokesman David Theis said:
"We have postponed the project for further review to ensure that the development objectives would not be adversely affected by the enactment of this new law."
The World Bank president Jim Yong Kim chimed in and wrote in an email:
"In the coming months, we will have a broad discussion about discrimination with staff, management, and our board on these issues. Now is the right moment for this conversation."
The US is concerning a similar thing. I am glad the world is watching and start to act on it.

source

Monday, February 24, 2014

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.

Friday, February 21, 2014

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?

Interesting Quote: Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano


“We can no longer afford to discriminate against people on the basis of age, sex, ethnicity, migrant status, sexual orientation and gender identity, or any other basis – we need to unleash the full potential of everyone. As an African who has been around a long time, I understand the resistance to these ideas.But I can also step back and see that the larger course of human history, especially of the past century or so, is one of expanding human rights and freedoms. African leaders should be at the helm of this, and not hold back. Not at this critical moment.”

source

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Friday, February 14, 2014

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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Thursday, January 16, 2014

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.

source 

Friday, December 27, 2013

In Uganda: Namirembe Cathedral Prelate praises MPs for passing Anti-Gay Bill

Mess...

The Premise:
The Anglican Church has applauded Parliament for standing firm and passing the contentious the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. While giving a Christmas sermon at St. Paul's Cathedral Namirembe, Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira said Parliament should continue to protect the country's conservative customs. He also asked Parliament to pass a law, which outlaws abortion. As Agness Nandutu reports, other pentecostal churches also added their voice against homosexuality in Uganda.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Uganda Passes the New Anti-Gay Bill


Damn. This is a sad day for our fam in Uganda.

Uganda's parliament passed the Anti-Gay bill today. While the 'killing' piece is out of it, life imprisonment is in. The bill also has a seven-year jail term for anyone that conducts a marriage ceremony for gay couples.

This bill will reinforce fear and distrust around their sexuality and freedom. And those who support this hateful bill believes it will protect families and children... Please

President Yoweri Museveni has to sign the bill in order for it to become law. I just hope he doesn't do it.

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Viktor is a small town southern boy living in Los Angeles. You can find him on Twitter, writing about pop culture, politics, and comics. He’s the creator of the graphic novel StrangeLore and currently getting back into screenwriting.