Lawmakers in
the east African country of Uganda are set to vote Tuesday on a proposed law
that would criminalize same-sex sexual relations and levy harsh penalties for
allies, advocates, and those who do business with members of the LGBTQ+
community.
The
Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 would imprison individuals found to have engaged
in same-sex sexual relations with a prison sentence of up to 10 years, and
those who attempt to engage in such sex acts with five years in prison. The
proposed law would also permit authorities to “issue a protection order” for
any youth suspected of engaging in same-sex sexual relations.
The bill has
been championed by President Yoweri Museveni, who said the bill is necessary to
protect the country’s culture from corrupt foreign influences. Museveni has
ignored constitutional term limits and held power since 1986.
During a state
address on Thursday, he described LGBTQ+ folks as “deviations from normal” and
called for further research on same-sex sexual attraction, according to
the AFP.
“Is it by
nature or nurture?” Museveni asked. “We need to answer these questions.”
Museveni has a
history of anti-LGBTQ+ language and targeting the LGBTQ+ community. During a
2014 interview with CNN, he called gay people “disgusting” and lauded a
commission of scientists he said proved that same-sex sexual attractions were
abnormal learned behavior.
“I was
regarding it as an inborn problem,” he said at the time. “Genetic distortion –
that was my argument. But now our scientists have knocked this one out.”
Activists said
the bill was especially dangerous.
“One of the
most extreme features of this new bill is that it criminalizes people simply
for being who they are as well as further infringing on the rights to privacy,
and freedoms of expression and association that are already compromised in
Uganda,” Oryem Nyeko, Uganda researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. “Ugandan politicians should focus on passing
laws that protect vulnerable minorities and affirm fundamental rights and stop
targeting LGBT people for political capital.”
The AFP
reports that conspiracy theories are abounding on social media about corrupt
foreign forces that promote queerness. It's contributed to many LGBTQ+
activists going into hiding.
In addition to
criminalizing same-sex sexual relations, the proposed bill targets individuals,
journalists, activists, organizations, and businesses that support the LGBTQ+
community. The bill calls for a fine of over $26,000 for individuals and
organizations found to have "promoted" homosexuality. Gay brothel
owners would face up to seven years in jail and landlords renting to LGBTQ+
people would be imprisoned for a maximum of one year.
The proposed
bill is similar to a 2014 anti-LGBTQ+ law that called for a life sentence for
individuals engaging in same-sex sexual relations. The law was later struck
down by the courts. The vote by lawmakers is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
SOURCE: ADVOCATE
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