Uganda and LGBT
Greens/EFA Group Protests against Homophobic Bill in Uganda's Parliament
On Friday 24th July, Uganda's Ethics and Integrity Minister, Dr. Nsaba Buturo, presented the first drafts of a new anti-homosexuality bill (coupled with an anti-pornography bill), which would criminalise even the distribution of literature about homosexuality. According to the Minister, it would also become impossible for homosexuals to address press conferences and attract people to support their cause. These bills are being debated in the Parliament in Uganda these days.
Rebecca Harms, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and newly elected Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, herself an openly lesbian politician, commented:
"The Greens/EFA Group raise strong protest against this homophobic bill, which marks a new highlight in the hostile situation being faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Uganda.
This violation of human rights and human dignity should evoke broad international protest and be considered a dangerous precedent. We call for an immediate stop of the legislative process as this new law is endangering the good relations of Uganda to the European Union and means a step backwards in the development of the country in its respect for human and minority rights as well as the right to privacy."
Harms and Lunacek have addressed a letter of concern to the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda at the European Union.
