The United States has threatened potential economic consequences should the Ugandan anti-LGBTQ+ law take off.
On March 22, 2023 the United Nations and the United States urged Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to cancel the “horrific” anti-gay law. Human rights organisations have also criticised the law as discriminatory and an infringement of human rights. One of the most extreme aspects of this new bill is that it criminalises people simply for being who they are and further restricts the already compromised rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of association in Uganda.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, was quoted as saying:
“We would have a look at whether or not there might be repercussions that we would have to take, perhaps in an economic way, should this law actually get passed.”
On March 21, the majority of parliamentarians in Uganda decided to approve the bill, which includes the following rules.
- If a person is found guilty of grooming or trafficking children to use them in homosexual activities, they could spend the rest of their lives in prison.
- People or organizations that support or fund LGBT rights activities or organizations that publish, broadcast, or distribute pro-gay media or literature could also go to jail.
- If media groups, journalists, or publishers publish, broadcast, or distribute content that supports gay rights or “promotes homosexuality,” they could be prosecuted and sent to jail.
- There is a death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” which is sexual abuse of a child, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person. There is also a death penalty for “homosexual assault” that causes a person to get sick for life.
- Property owners could also go to jail if their building is used as a “brothel” for homosexual acts or other activities that support the rights of sexual minorities.
In recent years, a number of African countries have turned away LGBTQ+ people. Kenya is close to Uganda. In Kenya, the president, first lady, and vice president have all spoken out against LGBTQ+ people.
Ghana is also working on adopting an anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which is widely considered to have the support of the majority of parliamentarians, including the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
Source – Tru News Report
