Ugandan 'Kill the Gays' bill appears on Parliament agenda

A report by ThinkProgress, citing information from the Box Turtle Bulletin reveals the controversial 'Kill the Gays' bill is now on the agenda for a vote by the Ugandan Parliament.

A voting date has not been released, but sources state that it could be very soon. Previously, Ugandan Speaker Rebecca Kadaga had urged a quick vote, citing the legislation as being a 'Christmas Gift' to Uganda. Kadega would like a vote by 27 November, and has made no comment regarding threats of sanctions by other countries if the bill is passed.

According to the Box Turtle Bulletin, one of the charges that the bill will allow to be levied against the Ugandan LBGT community is 'aggravated homosexuality.' According to the report, this charge involves multiple violations and the individual being labeled as a serial offender.

The report also cites related offenses that can be grouped under the wide-reaching legislation, including charges of refusing to report a homosexual, renting real estate to a homosexual, supporting pro-gay causes and even using the Internet to support gay rights.

The penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality' is execution by the state.

Box Turtle provides the following details regarding the rewording of the bill to exclude the word 'death,':

1. Clause 3 (2) is amended by substituting for the words “…suffer death’’ with words “…the penalty provided for aggravated defilement under Section 129 of the Penal Code Act”.

Section 129 states that anyone who is found guilty of committing one of the sexual acts that has already been deemed illegal is 'liable to suffer death.;

Click here for a PDF of the bill (will open in a new window)

For more details, facts and figures, read more at ThinkProgress.

Al Stefanelli

Al serves on the Board of Directors for The Clergy Project, and is the former Georgia State Director for American Atheists, Inc. He is a retired journalist and the author of "Free Thoughts - A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist" and "A Voice Of Reason In An Unreasonable World - The Rise Of Atheism On Planet Earth." Al began writing in 1985, starting with the New York Times. In 1993 he joined a McClatchy newspaper, writing a weekly column for ten years. His writing continues to be widely distributed on the Internet and in print. He also produced and hosted a weekly syndicated radio broadcast for three years and was the founder and President of the former United Atheist Front, Inc., which functioned as a civil rights organization. Al is a former Southern Baptist Pastor, having served two churches and as pulpit supply for three counties. Currently, he writes for The God Discussion, hosts his own blog on WordPress, submits content to a variety of publications, and co-hosts "American Heathen Radio" and "Reap Sow Radio." Al lives in Peachtree City, GA., a suburb of Atlanta.

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