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Rwanda: Also Voting on Dealth Penalty for Some Gays

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

When I first saw the email heading, I thought it might be wrong. The human rights community has for some weeks now been focusing on a bill in Uganda–on which a vote is expected any day–to criminalize homosexuality. The Uganda bill, on which the White House only just released a statement of opposition, was introduced on October 14, 2009. The so-called “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” would:

Imprison for life anyone convicted of “the offense of homosexuality”;

Punish “aggravated homosexuality” – including repeat offenders, or anyone who is HIV positive and has gay sex – with the death penalty;

Forbid the “promotion of homosexuality,” and jail rights defenders who work on LGBT rights;

Imprison anyone for up to three years if they fail to report within 24 hours anyone they know who is lesbian, gay,or transgender, or who supports the human rights of LGBT persons.

Full Story from RH Reality Check: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/12/15/breaking-rwandan-parliament-vote-wednesday-criminalization-homosexuality

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Uganda: Canadian PM Tells Uganda to Nix Anti Gay Bill

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Uganda’s president got an earful from Prime Minister Stephen Harper over the African nation’s proposed law targeting gays. The Ugandan “anti-homosexuality bill” would imprison and even execute homosexuals.

But the proposed law barely drew a mention at this weekend’s Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago — despite calls before the conference for the country’s suspension from the organization.

Harper said leaders generally don’t talk about specific laws during the Commonwealth meetings.

Full Story from The Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/world/2009/11/30/11976801-sun.html

Click here for gay marriage resources.


To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Analysis of Proposed Anti-Gay Bill in Uganda

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Given the various views that have accompanied the release of the ‘Bahati Bill’ on homosexuality, it is necessary to soberly assess what the Bill is really about. It is questionable how many of those that support the Bill have actually examined it beyond the words “anti-homosexuality.” In many respects we are like wood cutters standing at the edge of the woods, only seeing individual trees and not the forest (the bigger picture). But even those of us that vehemently oppose homosexuality should be asking ourselves a number of questions: Why bring a new law when homosexuality is already criminalised under existing ones? How will the Bill affect me personally?

The fact is that out of the 18 clauses that make up this Bill, only six introduce new legal provisions, two of which are minor. The other 12 simply repeat what already exists on the law books. Most significant is the fact that the provisions of the other four substantive new clauses blatantly violate Uganda’s Constitution and many other regional and international instruments. And for those who think that the Bill is only directed against ‘the homosexuals,’ they should look again.

Homosexuality is already an offence under the Penal Code of Uganda as is same-sex marriage, which is prohibited by the Constitution. The Bill expands the meaning of the Penal Code offence of having “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” and defines the term “homosexuality” in such a broad fashion as to include “touching another person with the intention of committing the act of homosexuality.” This is a provision highly prone to abuse and puts all citizens at great risk. Such a provision would make it very easy for a person to bring false accusations against their enemies simply to “destroy” their reputations. Just ask Pastor Kayanja!

Full Story from the Daily Monitor: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/opinions/Why_anti-gay_Bill_should_worry_us_93987.shtml

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To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.