A Ugandan man takes part in pride celebrations on August 9, 2014 in Entebbe, Uganda. Almost a decade … [+]
On May 29th, the White House Briefing Room released a statement in which President Biden condemned Uganda’s new anti-gay law.
“The enactment of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights—one that is not worthy of the Ugandan people, and one that jeopardizes the prospects of critical economic growth for the entire country. I join with people around the world—including many in Uganda—in calling for its immediate repeal,” Biden said.
What Is The Anti-Homosexuality Act?
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act is one of the harshest contemporary anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the world. President Museveni signed the law on May 26. Uganda already had deemed “same-sex relations” illegal. But under the new Anti-Homosexuality Act, LGBTQ+ Ugandans face stricter punishments. If a Ugandan is convicted of having gay sex, that person could be imprisoned for life. Anyone who encourages or “promotes” homosexuality may face up to twenty years in prison.
Many LGBTQ+ Ugandans report experiencing more abuse in public. According to Biden’s statement, the Anti-Homosexuality Act feeds the flames of a lavender scare, creating an environment in which “Innocent Ugandans now fear going to hospitals, clinics, or other establishments to receive life-saving medical care lest they be targeted by hateful reprisals. Some have been evicted from their homes or fired from their jobs.”
Frank Mugisha is one of Uganda’s LGBTQ+ people who is bracing for the backlash. Mugisha is no stranger to bullying or harassment, and he stepped up to lead the LGBTQ-friendly group Sexual Minorities Uganda in 2007. For almost two decades, Mugisha has been a prominent gay activist in his country. But since the Anti-Homosexuality act was introduced to legislators, Mugisha has received death threats.
In April, Mugisha told Reuters that although he does not plan to stop expressing his sexuality and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, many other queer people are too scared to come out of the closet: “The Ugandan population has been radicalized to fear and hate homosexuals … If I was 7, 9, 12, 14, I don’t think I would tell anyone I am gay right now.”
Biden Considers Sanctions Against Uganda
Diplomats and politicians wonder how the Anti-Homosexuality Act may impact foreign relations.
Currently, the United States spends around one billion dollars a year building connections with Uganda’s trade and military. In his statement, Biden warns that the United States may pull back financial support for Uganda, “Including our ability to safely deliver services under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other forms of assistance and investments.”