At the end of May, Uganda’s president signed into law a piece of legislation that criminalizes the LGBTQI+ community it includes that death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” creates new crimes around “promotion of homosexuality,” and 10 years in prison for attempted same-sex conduct. Ophelia Kemigisha, human rights lawyer and feminist activist from Uganda, and Beirne Roose-Snyder, Senior Policy Fellow for the Council for Global Equality, sit down to talk with us about Uganda’s new anti-LGBTQI+ law and what human rights advocates can do to work against it. 

 

Many evangelical, conservative American organizations and activists have been working in Uganda to plant the seeds for this recent, horrific law. An anti-homosexuality bill in the country in 2013 (which included the death penalty provision) began a U.S.-discussion on human rights and American involvement in Uganda. The law was repealed due to technical language— not substance—and since then, conservative American and Ugandan actors have continued crafting anti-LGBTQI+ legislation and contributing to extreme stigmatization. For a deeper dive on the global anti-gender movement, find the past podcast with Beirne here.

 

New to this bill, though, include the criminalization of the “promotion” and “normalization” of homosexuality; this includes, for example, seven years in prison for providing housing to those who you know are gay. The law also lumps in the ability to love a partner of one’s own choice with harrowing crimes, including sexual assault. Misinformation surrounding this bill has been rife, and real harm is currently taking place in Uganda. People are afraid to speak and live openly; patients with HIV are scared to approach healthcare providers for treatment; healthcare professionals are scared to interact with the LGBTQI+ community. It is the responsibility of human rights advocates to hold the line and clearly communicate that this legislation is unconscionable. 

 

Legislation like Uganda’s is not happening in a vacuum; pushes for similar laws are happening across the African continent and across the world. As a human rights activist, make noise about how urgent it is to fight this bill—it is a domino. 

 

Links

Convening for Equality Twitter

Convening for Equality’s Statement after Uganda’s Passage of The Anti-LGBTQI+ Law

The Council for Global Equality on Twitter

The Council for Global Equality on Facebook

A Deep-Dive on The Global Anti-Gender Movement

Ophelia

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