geoff: Uganda has enacted one of
the world's harshest
anti-lgbtq laws.
Same sex relations were already
illegal in Uganda, but a new law
goes much further, including
life imprisonment for anyone
convicted of homosexuality and
in some cases, mandates the
death penalty.
As Stephanie sy reports, the new
provisions have upended the life
of gay Ugandans who now feel in
danger.
Stephanie: The signing of the
new law ushers in a dangerous
time for Uganda's lgbtq people.
The anti-homosexuality act
intensifies along crackdown on
sexual minorities.
Ugandan legislators who passed
the law nearly unanimously say
it is their prerogative.
>> As a country, as a people, we
will completely have seceded our
sovereignty.
Stephanie: The country's new
bill is one of the most
punitive.
It includes the death penalty
for "Aggravated homosexuality"
that includes a transmission of
HIV through gay sex with
children and disabled people.
It calls for life imprisonment
for anyone convicted of
homosexuality, up to 20 years in
jail for the promotion of
homosexuality, and up to seven
years for landlords renting to
homosexuals.
>> This is the time you're going
to show us whether you are homo
or you are not.
Stephanie: And even harsher bill
was passed in March.
It still criminalizes their
acts.
For clear -- queer activist, it
is a tragedy.
>> You are arresting us for
doing nothing.
Where are we supposed to go?
How did we become refugees in
our own country?
Stephanie: In other countries,
including in South Africa, the
outcry has been swift.
For months, civil society
groups, the united nations and
western groups implore him not
to sign it, but his homophobic
stance and rhetoric held steady.
>> I want to congratulate the
members of parliament on their
stand [indiscernible]
It is good that you rejected the
pressure from the imperialists.
Stephanie: In a statement this
week, president Biden called the
bill a tragic violation of
universal human rights.
He said the administration would
evaluate the implications of the
law on all aspects of U.S.
Engagement with Uganda.
That includes potentially
cutting foreign aid.
The U.S. Provides Uganda at
nearly $1 billion each year,
mostly in support public health
programs, including to combat
HIV.
Earlier this year, national
security council spokesman John
Kirby warned the fallout could
be economic.
>> That would be really
unfortunate because so much of
the economic assistance we
provide Uganda's health
assistance.
Stephanie: The U.S. Sanctioned
Uganda in 2014 after the
president signed a similar law
that was later overturned in
court.
But Uganda is only one of more
than 30 African countries that
banned same-sex relations.
Uganda's anti-lb gt Q sentiment
is partially explained by the
influence of British colonial
rules.
The bill follows a years long
crackdown on lgbtq people that
has also garnered broad support.
>> What the president it was the
right thing, of course.
Stephanie: For more on this law,
I'm joined by the co-founder of
truth lgbtq, a Kampala based
organization that provides
mental health support and
advocates for lgbtq rights in
Uganda.
Stephen, thank you so much for
joining the newshour.
I know this is a tough time for
you.
I heard that yesterday one of
your colleagues was attacked,
just days after this bill was
passed.
I understand he's been
hospitalized.
Tell us what happened and was
this a homophobic attack?
>> Yesterday, as we were close
in upper offices, he was
attacked by rogue people and he
almost lost his life.
They were told they would find
me.
It has been a habit for these
people online to come out and
tell me the moment the bill is
signed into law, we are going to
attack and you shoot as an
example.
So when they attacked and they
couldn't find me, they -- very
badly.
Right now he is fighting for his
life but we pray he recovers
very well.
>> I know we were just showing
some photos of how bad he is and
the state he is in.
It is disturbing for you I am
sure to know that those attacks
were meant for you.
You are an openly gay man in a
company -- in a country that now
severely penalizes
homosexuality.
This is the kind of danger you
are in now, threats to your
life?
>> Yes, this is the kind of
danger I am in right now, the
kind of danger everyone is
passing through right now, that
is the lgbtq community.
We asked for the international
community to do an action and
stop this on coming genocide of
the lgbt community in Uganda.
>> The Biden administration has
strongly condemned this law, but
even in 2014, sanctions by
western nations, that hasn't
seemed to stop the tide of this
anti-gay legislation, and now
this severe criminalization in
your country.
>> They have never respected
human rights.
We are asking format -- for more
action then sanctioning the
government.
Maybe sanctioning the figures
that participated in passing it
and their families.
The U.S. Government is quiet.
We want the U.S. Government to
come out and not only sanction
some individuals,
[indiscernible]
It's just going to continue.
Religious leaders that are
typically homophobic have been
coming out to tell the public it
is ok.
So we are in great worry and in
very great danger right now.
>> When you talk about the
religious values that Ugandan
legislators and leaders say
undergird this discriminatory
law, what is your response to
that?
They say these are African
values.
Are they African values?
>> When you sit down to have an
open discussion with these
people and you asked them, they
don't have a definition of it.
African parties in African
culture is diverse.
There are different cultures.
This is just trying to justify
the homophobia.
They not protecting any African
culture.
They are not protecting any
religious culture, and
justifying crimes against
humanity with religion and
culture.
Stephanie: Stephen, what are you
planning to do?
Is this law going to compel you
to change the way you live, to
change the choices you make
knowing the penalty is perhaps
your freedom?
>> How can someone change from
being gay, that is the first
question.
No, I cannot change.
I was born gay and I am gay.
We need help.
We call on the international
community to open its borders
and help us fight this.
Stephanie: Stephen joining us
from camp Allah.
Thank you for sharing your
experience and your thoughts
with us, and our thoughts of
course are with your friend.
We hope he does recover quickly.
Thank you.
♪♪