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Loading...Clinton Presents Ugandan Gay Rights Campaigners with Award
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week presented an award to human rights campaigners who have battled hard to prevent Uganda from passing the “Kill the Gays” bill.
Clinton presented a coalition of Ugandan rights groups with the State Department’s 2011 Human Rights Defender Award, a signal to African and Islamic nations that Washington will not backtrack in its fight against the legal and political persecution of homosexuals.
“It is critical for all Ugandans – the government and citizens alike – to speak out against discrimination, harassment, and intimidation of anyone. That’s true no matter where they come from, what they believe, or whom they love,” Clinton said.
[...]
“You are a model for others and an inspiration for the world,” Clinton said to representatives of the group, formed in 2009 to combat draft legislation which proposed the death penalty for anyone convicted of “aggravated homosexuality”.
The article goes on to incorrectly state that the draft legislation of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill no longer contains the death penalty for so-called repeat offenders.
As Care2 has reported before, this is not true. The legislation that currently sits in the 9th Parliament retains the measure. What Reuters is incorrectly referring to is events in the 8th Parliament that saw a committee recommend retiring the death penalty while advancing other measures–but these changes were never actually formalized and the legislation retains this most heinous of penalties, despite what media reports have said.
In addition to the death penalty, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill also carries provisions to fine or incarcerate family and friends who fail to denounce the gay people in their lives, would prevent the so-called “promotion” of homosexuality, and would greatly impede HIV/AIDS prevention work by making it virtually impossible to safely engage with men who have sex with other men.
As mentioned above, the bill is still active in the 9th Parliament’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, with its author David Bahati having said the legislation will be taken up during the current legislative session which started in June.
Clinton is currently on a seven-nation trip throughout Africa, visiting the South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa, among other regions.
Related Reading:
Ugandan LGBT Rights Activist Now Allowed UK Entry
Suspicious Burglary at Ugandan Gay Rights Organization
Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” Bill Set to Return
Read more: africa, anti-homosexuality bill, david bahati, gay, hiv prevention, human rights, kill the gays bill, lgbt, lgbt rights, lgbt uganda, Museveni, simon lokodo, uganda
Photo courtesy of Marc Nozell via Flickr.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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+ add your ownSorry for the triple post....
It absolutely amazes me that not one person commenting seems to remember her trip to Egypt, embracing the new Muslim Brotherhood government which actively works to persecute anybody who is gay/lesbian/transgendered. Clinton is a raving hypocrite & disgusts me with her two faces which she uses in any given situation. On one day she's in Egypt shaking hands with human rights abusers, the next day she's lauding Uganda for their human rights improvements..... *cough* bullshit *cough*
It absolutely amazes me that not one person commenting seems to remember her trip to Egypt, embracing the new Muslim Brotherhood government which actively works to persecute anybody who is gay/lesbian/transgendered. Clinton is a raving hypocrite & disgusts me with her two faces which she uses in any given situation. On one day she's in Egypt shaking hands with human rights abusers, the next day she's lauding Uganda for their human rights improvements..... *cough* bullshit *cough*
It absolutely amazes me that not one person commenting seems to remember her trip to Egypt, embracing the new Muslim Brotherhood government which actively works to persecute anybody who is gay/lesbian/transgendered. Clinton is a raving hypocrite & disgusts me with her two faces which she uses in any given situation. On one day she's in Egypt shaking hands with human rights abusers, the next day she's lauding Uganda for their human rights improvements..... *cough* bullshit *cough*
Great action Sec. Clinton,thanks for the post Steve.
Kudos to you, Sec. Clinton.
I chose NOT to be "Anti-God" and be judgmental, or tell others HOW them MUST live..God gave ME 'FREE WILL", so how can I deny it to all others.
I think we all need be more tolerant, and love one another, and do no harm, treat everyone as we would LIKE to be treated.
THANK you Secretary Clinton for giving an award and taking notice of people who are worthy of notice.
I am very happy you are "my" Secretary of State" you are doing a very good job and the work is not easy...
"What's in it for us"? FREEDOM to live & love in this world as our hearts beckon.
Well done, Clinton - a superb gesture, which sets a tone for tolerance in the world !
Hillary Clinton is a fine one to tell other countries about gay rights. Maybe she should have a conversation with Chick-fil-A before she worries about Uganda, hein?
It is pathetically abominable that "in God we trust" inspiring motto of the nation should be discarded. Now in God we despise should be engraved on the Dollar. Goldsmith was right when he wrote in his book "She stoops to Conquer": "Why London cannot keep its own fools at Home?"
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