Anti-Gay Uganda Politician Will Soon Preside Over UN General Assembly
Think Progress - 6 hours ago
BY ESTHER YU-HSI LEE ON JUNE 1, 2014 AT 1:30 PM
Photo: Sam Kutesa, Minister for Foreign Affairs from Uganda, addresses the
U.N. General Assembly in 2006
CREDIT: ED BETZ/ AP
Ugandas foreign minister, who once derided homosexuality as something that
the majority of Africans abhor, will soon take over as UN General Assembly
President for one year. The anti-gay politician Sam Kutesa will chair all
meetings of the UNs general assembly, and play host to world leaders
including President Barack Obama, according to the European news site Pink
News. Some world leaders and human rights organizations have criticized
Kutesas uncontested appointment saying that his support for his countrys
anti-gay legislation runs counter to the United Nations charter, which
promotes equality and justice.
The Guardian reported the African Union had elected Kutesa by acclamation
since it was the African Unions turn to choose a candidate and that he had
been the only candidate. But there has been massive condemnation of his past
record as his June 11th appointment date draws near. According to Black Star
News, both New York Sens.
Chuck Schumer (D) and Kristen Gillibrand (D) condemned Kutesas appointment.
In mid-May, Schumer said that Kutesas appointment is in contradiction to
the UN charter and denies equality for members of the LGBT community. In a
statement to Black Star News a few days later, Gillibrand said, The United
Nations mission should remain focused on bringing the world community
together rather than embracing divisiveness and intolerance. I urge the UN
to raise Ugandas human rights violations with Mr. Kutesa and stand with
Ugandas LGBT community facing injustice and persecution at home.
In February, Kutesa threw his support behind Uganda President Yoweri
Museveni for signing the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) that enforces a
penalty of life in prison for couples in a
committed relationship. The law also criminalizes people who perform
same-sex marriage ceremonies and others who counsel gays or lesbians.
At the time, Kutesa said that the majority of Africans abhor the practice
of homosexuality and that we shall not accept promotion and exhibition,
because we think that is wrong for our young people and it offends our
culture, according to The Guardian.
Since the AHA passed in February, Sexual Minorities Uganda reported in May
that there has been a ten-fold increase in violence against the LGBT
community, about 162 reported incidents of violence. The report also found
that the passing of AHA has given permission to a culture of extreme and
violent homophobia whereby both state and non-state actors are free to
persecute Ugandas LGBTI people with impunity. The BBC reported in 2007
that there were about 500,000 LGBT people living in Uganda.
Although Kutesas appointment is largely figurative, Milton Allimadi,
publisher and editor of the New York-based Black Star News wrote in April
that this would cause irreparable damage to the UNs reputation. Allimadi
has started a petition asking Secretary of State John Kerry to deny Kutesas
visa into the United States.
Tags: Africa LGBT Uganda United Nations
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EM
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