Ugandan parliament revisits Anti-Homosexuality Act
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Ugandan Parliament may take action on the Anti-Homosexuality Act this week. It has reappeared for parliamentary debate for the first time since its proposal in 2009. The original bill called for making homosexuality punishable by imprisonment, or death in aggravated circumstances.
Not reporting gay individuals to the government would also become a criminal act. Despite a great deal of international condemnation, the bill is largely supported in Uganda.
One of the bills backers, Martin Ssempa told the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee that the death penalty is "something that we have moved away from," in recent hearings, according to the Associated Press. However, he stresses the importance of passing the bill, stating that "homosexuality is killing our society."
Related news
- "Uganda introduces anti-homosexual legislation" — Wikinews, December 08, 2009
Sources
- Simon Akam. "Ugandan MPs drop demand for execution of homosexuals" — The Independent, May 11, 2011
- Ty Cobb. "Unsettling Movement on Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill" — HRC Back Story, May 10, 2011