Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The United States is being called upon to help terminate an ‘Anti-Homosexuality' bill’ that is being proposed in Uganda.

Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), told Talk Radio News Service on Friday that the legislation "would essentially make homosexuality punishable by life imprisonment or death."

Accoring to Nipper, passage of the bill would also affect the already limited distribution of information on HIV in Uganda through a provision criminalizing the “promotion of homosexuality.” In addition, the bill would establish a new crime, “aggravated homosexuality,” also punishable by death for anyone in Uganda. Citizens who are HIV positive and have consensual “same-sex relations” would face the same harsh penalties as well.

According to a statement released by the NGLTF, “it is imperative that the Obama administration and Congress push Uganda to withdraw this bill in its entirety. Simply removing the death penalty doesn’t somehow make this a humane bill. Weather it be the state-sponsored murder of LGTB Ugandans or their life imprisonment for simply being who they are is barbaric and unacceptable.”

American officials have taken initial steps toward terminating the bill, said Nipper. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has contacted President Yoweri Museveni to express concerns about the proposed law. In addition, a congressional hearing will be held next week which will be chaired by U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) under the support of Human Rights Commission President Tom Lantos.

The NGLTF is also calling upon all Americans to help halt the passage of this bill. “All Americans should be concerned about basic human rights violations wherever they occur in the world,” said Nipper. “It’s in many ways who we are as a people, we care about all people and we care about the dignity of all people regardless of race, sexual orientation or identity, it is important for us to stand by the values we established in the world.”