500,000 petition against Uganda's anti-gay HIV-hate law
posted: 09/03/2010
Half a million people signed a petition delivered to the Ugandan Parliament Speaker Edward Ssekandi on March 1 opposing the proposed law that would jail gays for life and punish men with HIV with the death penalty.
The petition came from HIV-positive Anglican priest, Canon Gideon Byamugisha, along with other religious leaders and HIV activists, including former Anglican Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo.
"In the interests of safer, healthier, more peaceful, and more prosperous lives for all Ugandans; we as Aids Service Providers, pastors and spiritual mentors of all Ugandans are calling for the withdrawal of this Bill from Parliament," the petition read in part. "We are united in opposing this Bill because if passed into law it threatens the health, peace and well being of Ugandan citizens and goes against the Ugandan Constitution."
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 would
• jail for life anyone convicted of the ‘offense’ of homosexuality,
• punish ‘aggravated homosexuality’ – which means anyone who is HIV-positive and has gay sex -- with the death penalty,
• forbid the ‘promotion of homosexuality,’
• lock up gay-rights campaigners, and
• jail people in positions of authority for up to three years for failing to report within 24 hours all LGBT people or sympathisers they know.
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