CV NEWS FEED // The White House on Wednesday condemned the Ugandan Parliament for passing legislation against the promotion of the “LGBTQIA+” agenda in the conservative Christian country, threatening to cut off aid over the proposed law if President Yoweri Museveni signs it.
“We have grave concerns with the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act AHA by the parliament of Uganda yesterday and increasing violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre called the bill “one of the most extreme anti-LGBTQI+ laws in the world,” and added: “Human rights are universal. No one should be attacked, imprisoned or killed simply because of who they are or whom they love.”
Supporters of Uganda’s law, however, would strongly disagree with the White House’s characterization.
Rather than attacking, imprisoning, or killing people “simply because of who they are or whom they love,” the law expands already-existing laws against homosexual activity – which are normative among dozens of largely traditional African nations.
Novel aspects of the law include a ban on “promoting homosexuality” and a heightened penalty for child rape.
“The legislation … carries the death penalty for what is described as ‘aggravated homosexuality,’” according to Today News Africa:
Aggravated homosexuality refers to offenses involving minors and other vulnerable people. A person convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” faces 14 years behind bars.
Today News Africa also reported Thursday that the White House threatened “to pull aid” over the proposed legislation:
According to the State Department, the United States provides more than $950 million in aid to Uganda each year, money used to support development and health care measures, such as combating HIV/AIDS.
