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| Uganda bill threatens jail for saying you're gay | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Cheers and applause as Uganda passes anti-gay bill | Watch: Cheers and applause as Uganda passes anti-gay bill |
| Watch: Cheers and applause as Uganda passes anti-gay bill | Watch: Cheers and applause as Uganda passes anti-gay bill |
| Uganda's parliament has passed a bill which would criminalise people who identify as gay, or a sexual minority. | Uganda's parliament has passed a bill which would criminalise people who identify as gay, or a sexual minority. |
| Individuals could face lengthy prison terms if the bill is signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni. | Individuals could face lengthy prison terms if the bill is signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni. |
| Under the proposed legislation, friends, family and members of the community would have a duty to report individuals in same-sex relationships to the authorities. | Under the proposed legislation, friends, family and members of the community would have a duty to report individuals in same-sex relationships to the authorities. |
| Homosexual acts are already illegal in the East African country. | Homosexual acts are already illegal in the East African country. |
| But the bill seeks to go further and criminalise people on the basis of their sexual identity. | But the bill seeks to go further and criminalise people on the basis of their sexual identity. |
| The bill, which was first tabled earlier this month, passed with widespread support in Uganda's parliament on Tuesday. | The bill, which was first tabled earlier this month, passed with widespread support in Uganda's parliament on Tuesday. |
| It will now go to President Museveni who can choose to use his veto - and maintain good relations with Western donors and investors - or sign it into law. | It will now go to President Museveni who can choose to use his veto - and maintain good relations with Western donors and investors - or sign it into law. |
| The bill also stipulates that a person who is convicted of grooming or trafficking children for purposes of engaging them in homosexual activities faces life in prison. | The bill also stipulates that a person who is convicted of grooming or trafficking children for purposes of engaging them in homosexual activities faces life in prison. |
| Individuals or institutions which support or fund LGBT rights' activities or organisations, or publish, broadcast and distribute pro-gay media material and literature, also face prosecution and imprisonment. | Individuals or institutions which support or fund LGBT rights' activities or organisations, or publish, broadcast and distribute pro-gay media material and literature, also face prosecution and imprisonment. |
| A small group of Ugandan MPs on a committee scrutinising the bill disagreed with its premise. They argue the offences it seeks to criminalise are already covered in the country's Penal Code Act. | A small group of Ugandan MPs on a committee scrutinising the bill disagreed with its premise. They argue the offences it seeks to criminalise are already covered in the country's Penal Code Act. |
| Activists and LGBT people in Uganda have said that anti-homosexuality sentiment in the country is exposing them to physical and online violence, and that the bill may have far-reaching consequences for Ugandans in general. | Activists and LGBT people in Uganda have said that anti-homosexuality sentiment in the country is exposing them to physical and online violence, and that the bill may have far-reaching consequences for Ugandans in general. |
| In 2014, Uganda's constitutional court nullified a similar act which had toughened laws against the LGBT community. | In 2014, Uganda's constitutional court nullified a similar act which had toughened laws against the LGBT community. |
| It included making it illegal to promote and fund LGBT groups and activities, as well as reiterating that homosexual acts should be punished by life imprisonment. | It included making it illegal to promote and fund LGBT groups and activities, as well as reiterating that homosexual acts should be punished by life imprisonment. |
| The court ruled that the legislation be revoked because it had been passed by parliament without the required quorum. The law had been widely condemned by Western countries. | The court ruled that the legislation be revoked because it had been passed by parliament without the required quorum. The law had been widely condemned by Western countries. |
| Same-sex relations are banned in about 30 African countries, where many people uphold conservative religious and social values. | Same-sex relations are banned in about 30 African countries, where many people uphold conservative religious and social values. |
| A Ugandan transgender woman who was recently attacked and is currently being sheltered watches the vote on TV | A Ugandan transgender woman who was recently attacked and is currently being sheltered watches the vote on TV |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| LGBT rights in Africa | LGBT rights in Africa |
| Uganda | Uganda |