WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) released the following statement today following the signing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda:
“Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is a horrific expansion of state-sanctioned repression against LGBTQ people in the country and amounts to one of the harshest anti-gay laws in the world. The legislation further terrorizes gay Ugandans with the prospect of life imprisonment or the death penalty; criminalizes healthcare and advocacy efforts that provide a critical lifeline to the LBGTQ community in Uganda; and jeopardizes the United States’ ability to provide lifesaving HIV/AIDS relief in the country. It is a direct assault on the survival of gay Ugandans and a flagrant violation of international human rights law.
“I am deeply troubled by this anti-democratic measure and join Ugandans, civil rights activists, and the larger global community in demanding that the Ugandan government reverse course on this dangerous LGBTQ law that will only hamper Uganda’s development and diminish its international standing. I commend the President’s commitment to examine the implications of this law on U.S. engagement with Uganda, including our ability to safely deliver PEPFAR services and other vital assistance, Uganda’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and the application of sanctions and entry restrictions on those involved in human rights abuses and corruption. No one – no matter where they live – should live in fear of being jailed, discriminated against, or subjected to violence because of who they are. I will continue to stand against draconian measures like this one that threaten the safety and freedom of LGBTQ people – at home and abroad.”
Original source can be found here.
