David Bahati, author of Uganda's fascist anti-homosexuality bill, says he fears for his life following the disappearance of his cousin and after receiving numerous death threats over the past few weeks, according to All Africa.com. Bahati has reported to the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs that his life is in danger.
Parliament Speaker Edward Sssekandi claims he has "received many communications from abroad threatening and stressing that they shall not give us money if we support the anti-homosexuality Bill." Several countries like the US, Britain, Canada and international human-rights organizations have described the proposed law as discriminatory, some threatening to withhold development assistance to Uganda if the Bill is passed. President Obama said the Bill "moves against the tide of history".
Bahati's bill proposes death or life imprisonment for homosexuals, but it also proposes punishments for those who fail to report homosexuals to the authorities. The Bill is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, which has yet to start public hearings.
President Museveni has told US authorities that he would veto the Bill, although his precise stance on the proposed law remains unclear. However, Museveni has called homosexuality "filthy and deviant", adding, "we are talking about anal sex here; not even animals do that." Museveni and other Ugandan leaders still see homosexuality as a choice, not an orientation.
Ssekandi supported Bahati's Bill, citing policy. He said, "In Parliament, any member is free to move a Private Member's Bill. Since Bahati's Bill is before the Parliamentary committee, it is going to gather people's views and report back to the House."
What will become of he Bahati Bill remains to be seen. The bill has received international attention and the Ugandan Parliament is under tremendous pressure to treat LGBT Ugandans more humanely. However, even if the bill doesn't pass, existing Ugandan law still imposes harsh penaltes on gay citizens and their families.
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I told you gay/queer men are funny, strange people. I have a cousin in L.A. who's gay, queer, funny, and strange.
The foo is on the other shoot.
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