Gay Humanists Condemn Ugandan Parliament’s Threat to Murder Gay Citizens

London 11^th May 2011

The UK’s Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has condemned plans by members of the Ugandan Parliament to fast track legislation that would allow the judicial killing of gay people in a wide range of situations. GALHA has joined demands by the international community that Ugandan President Museveni veto the "Kill The Gays" bill, should it be passed in Parliament.

The law would impose the death penalty for a wide range of consensual gay relationships.

GALHA Chair Adam Knowles commented:

“It beggars belief that the government of a country where the people already suffer huge deprivations should be even thinking about legislation that will further victimise, and even murder some of its own most persecuted citizens. As the legislation stands, people could be put to death simply for being in a  long-term, loving gay relationship.

“The bill not only persecutes and demonises gay people, but will make it even harder to fight the problems of AIDS in East Africa. It will encourage exactly the kind of furtive and clandestine encounters which spread AIDS, while discouraging gay men from getting information about safer sex. It will also encourage potentially disastrous complacency among heterosexuals by furthering the myth that HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases do not affect them, at a time when the great majority of HIV cases in Africa are passed on by heterosexuals.

“GALHA urges people in Uganda, and in the international community to unite in ensuring that this obscene legislation is abandoned, especially given that no logical or rational arguments have been put forward to support it.