In Uganda, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, authored by David Bahati, seeks to broaden the criminalization of homosexuality by introducing the death penalty for people who have previous convictions, are HIV-positive, or engage in same sex acts with people under 18 years of age. The bill also includes provisions for Ugandans who engage in same-sex sexual relations outside of Uganda, asserting that they may be extradited for punishment back to Uganda, and includes penalties for individuals, companies, media organizations, or non-governmental organizations that support LGBT rights.
According journalist Jeff Sharlet, David Bahati is a core member of The Family, a very powerful American Christian evangelical political organization. Sharlet described Mr. Bahati as a “rising star” in the Family who has attended the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States. Since he authored this controversial and hateful bill, the Family has publicly distanced themselves from Bahati. Previously, the Family had redirected millions of dollars in US aid to Uganda from sex education programs to abstinence programs. This religious push caused an evangelical revival in Uganda, which lead to condom burnings. There are an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV in Uganda, which includes 150,000 children.
In the next 72 hours, conservative lawmakers could move a bill that would make being LGBT in Uganda a crime punishable by death.
This bill is part of a pattern of the Ugandan government’s violent repression of pro-democracy forces within the country, and time is running out to stop it. Can you please sign and share the petition demanding that Ugandan President Museveni stop the human rights violations by publicly vowing to veto the “Kill the Gays” bill?