Uganda has passed an alarming anti-LGBTQ bill that will make homosexuality punishable by life in prison or even death.
As NBC News reports, the Ugandan parliament passed the legislation on Tuesday, which criminalizes anyone who identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer. Furthermore, anyone accused of engaging in same-sex intercourse or homosexuality-promoting media, such as gay porn, could be sentenced to death for “aggravated homosexuality.” Those even suspected of homosexuality could receive a minimum of ten years behind bars.
Minister of State for Works and Transport Musa Ecweru said gay people “have no space in Uganda” during parliament’s Tuesday proceedings. Human rights groups and activists are now pleading with President Yoweri Museveni to reject the bill, though that may prove difficult. Museveni is known to be anti-LGBTQ. In the past, he has accused Western nations, presumably the United States, of trying to push pro-LGBTQIA concepts onto African countries. Last week, he referred to members of the LGBTQ community as “deviant” people.
Almost 30 African nations currently forbid any form of same-sex relationships. This latest measure, though, seems to be the strictest. Uganda’s high court initially struck it down over eight years ago, but renewed support for conservatism amongst Ugandans pushed the bill into the spotlight once more. Uganda has strong laws against homosexuality. Yet, there haven’t been any arrests for consenting gay acts since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. The new anti-gay law is seemingly guaranteeing that retribution is enforced.
Museveni has not publicly commented on the measure but is expected to sign it into law any day now.
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