Uganda passed a new law today, that means life imprisonment for homosexual acts.
All the talk within the past few days of Russia’s harsh laws about homosexuality and Phil Robertson’s remarks that possibly ruined his entire family’s career, Uganda’s law will certainly not go unnoticed.
Just yesterday in the United States New Mexico became the seventeenth state to legalize gay marriage, but it seems that the rest of the world may not be progressing in the same way. The Chicago Tribune says that the law raised concern amongst gays in Uganda who are already terrified to express themselves.
This bill was first introduced in 2009 when the penalty for homosexual acts was death. It has been amended to remove the death penalty, however, it still includes jail time for anyone who is convicted and it also includes life imprisonment for what they call “aggravated homosexuality.”
USA Today reports that parliament said that this new law was absolutely needed. Parliament said that homosexuals from the West posed a threat to Ugandan families and that these people are trying to recruit Ugandan children to gay lifestyles.
Many international rights groups have harshly criticized Uganda for the passing of laws, like this one. Uganda has taken away civil liberties and continues to oppress its people.