Stop Uganda’s gay death law
I've just signed a petition calling on the Ugandan government to withdraw a
proposed anti-gay law that would punish gay people with prison -- or even
death. I thought that you would want to join me. Hundreds of thousands have
signed and pressure is mounting, but there are only a few days left. Read more
below, and sign the petition here:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_3/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Thanks!
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Dear friends,
Uganda’s parliament is preparing to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay
people with prison -- even death.
Initial international criticism drove the President to call for a review. But
after a well-funded and vicious lobbying effort by extremists, the bill looks
set to be passed -- threatening widespread persecution and bloodshed.
Opposition to the bill is rising, including from the Anglican church. Ugandan
gay rights advocate Frank Mugisha writes, "This law will put us in serious
danger. Please, sign the petition and tell others to stand with us – if there’s
a huge global response, our government will see that Uganda will be
internationally isolated by the proposed law, and strike it down."
With the decision expected in days, only an irresistible wave of worldwide
pressure will be enough to save Frank's life and many others. Let’s build a
huge petition to stop the gay death law -- click here to take action, then
forward this email:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_3/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
The petition will be delivered to President Museveni and the parliament at the
end of this week by top Ugandan civil society and Church leaders. Pro-death
penalty advocates have also planned a march this week, so our voices need to be
louder than theirs!
The bill proposes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of having same-sex
relations and imposes the death penalty for “serial offenders”. NGOs working to
prevent the spread of HIV could be imprisoned for up to 7 years for “promoting
homosexuality”. Even members of the public face up to three years in jail if
they fail to report homosexual activity to the police within 24 hours!
The bill’s advocates claim that it defends national culture, but its strongest
critics come from within Uganda. The Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha is one of
many who’s written to us – he says,
"It is violating our cultures, traditions and religious values that teach
against intolerance, injustice, hatred and violence. We need laws to protect
people -- not ones that will humiliate, ridicule, persecute and kill them en
masse."
By rejecting this dangerous bill and supporting the breadth of opposition to
it, we can help set a crucial precedent. Let’s build massive support for
Uganda’s human rights defenders, and save lives by stopping this bill -- sign
now here, then tell friends and family:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/uganda_rights_3/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
With hope and determination,
Alice, Ricken, Ben, Paul, Benjamin, Pascal, Raluca, Graziela and the whole
Avaaz team
SOURCES
African letter to Ugandan President to throw out Anti-Homosexual Bill:
http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22761
Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill 'genocide':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2009/dec/04/gideon-byamugisha-homosexuality-bill
Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda's Anti-homosexuality Bill By Sylvia
Tamale, The Dean of Law at Uganda's Makerere University:
http://www.zeleza.com/blogging/african-affairs/human-rights-impact-assessment-ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill-sylvia-tamal
little prince-Sanjay N Lulla
