Joseph Healy, the Green Party's International Office on LGBTIQ issues, comments on the Ugandan parliament's preparations to pass a brutal new law that would punish gay people with prison -- or even death:
"With reports from Uganda that the horrendous anti-gay Bill could pass into law within days, it is even more urgent for UK and world leaders to condemn this and for the world's churches to also stand on the side of the persecuted.
This proposed law is so contrary to human rights legislation, to which Uganda is a signatory, that legal action against the country should be considered.
With brave Africans, such as Canon Gideon Byamugisha, himself HIV+ and a member of the Ugandan Anglican Church, speaking out against this, every effort should be made to stop this law, which could reach the statute books within days.
This law will have the effect of driving those with HIV underground, making treatment of the disease very difficult, and will threaten NGOs working to prevent the spread of HIV with imprisonment for up to 7 years for "promoting homosexuality".
The Green Party unreseservedly condemns this attack on the human rights of the vulnerable LGBT community in Uganda and pledges to do everything possible both in the UK and internationally to oppose it."
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