US lawmakers push for repeal of anti-gay law

US lawmakers are leading a resolution to be tabled in the House, denouncing and seeking to put pressure on the Uganda Government to repeal its anti-gay law, says a copy of the resolution reviewed by The East African. The 21 congressmen and women want the Anti-Homosexuality Act – passed and signed early last year – expeditiously repealed for what they describe as its criminalisation and draconian punishments regarding consensual same-sex conduct and the so-called promotion of homosexuality. The resolution also supports continuation of sanctions, including restrictions on visas to enter the US; for the current and former Ugandan officials involved in repressing marginalised populations; as well as for Washington to maintain business and travel advisories with respect to activities in Uganda. Mark Takano and Joyce Beatty – who are leading the resolution – also support reduction of US support to Uganda Government, until the law is repealed. The US gives Uganda close to $1bn for military support and the health sector, including funding of anti-retroviral treatments – under the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief programme – for nearly 1.5m Ugandans living with HIV-Aids. ‘It is difficult to overstate the gross inhumanity of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act,’ said Takano. ‘Instead of focusing on rooting out corruption or ending extrajudicial killings, the Ugandan Parliament, President and the Constitutional Court have chosen to mark LGBTQ+ Ugandans as less than human.’