a victory

fuckyeahmarxismleninism:

A Ugandan gay rights group filed suit against an American evangelist, Scott Lively, in federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, accusing him of violating international law by inciting the persecution of homosexuals in Uganda.

The lawsuit alleges that beginning in 2002, Mr. Lively conspired with religious and political leaders in Uganda to whip up anti-gay hysteria with warnings that homosexuals would sodomize African children and corrupt their culture.

The Ugandan legislature considered a bill in 2009, proposed by one of Mr. Lively’s Ugandan contacts, that would have imposed the death sentence for homosexual behavior. That bill was at first withdrawn after an outcry from the United States and European nations that are among major aid donors to Uganda, but a revised bill was reintroduced last month.

Mr. Lively is being sued by the organization Sexual Minorities Uganda under the alien tort statute, which allows foreigners to sue in American courts in situations alleging the violation of international law. The suit claims that Mr. Lively’s actions resulted in the persecution, arrest, torture and murder of homosexuals in Uganda.

Pamela C. Spees, a lawyer for the Ugandan group, works with the Center for Constitutional Rights, a legal advocacy group based in New York City. Ms. Spees said that since homosexuals in Uganda have little support, the lawsuit “brings the fight” to those in the United States who she says fomented the anti-gay legislation in Uganda. 

(via bare-life)

gaywrites:

Homosexuality may soon be punishable by death in Uganda, where an anti-gay bill first introduced in 2009 has been revived for another round of consideration.

David Bahati’s “anti-homosexuality” bill proposes the death penalty for certain “homosexual acts.” Originally introduced in October 2009, it drew worldwide criticism, including threats from countries to cut foreign aid, and was eventually shelved. 

But lo and behold, Bahati has brought the bill back again, claiming it’s “necessary” to protect the citizens of Uganda. I disagree wildly. So does Amnesty International, one of the first groups to have spoken out against the bill’s revival. 

“It aims to criminalize the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality, compels HIV testing in some circumstances, and imposes life sentences for entering into a same-sex marriage,” Amnesty International said in a statement Tuesday. “It would also be an offense for a person who is aware of any violations of the bill’s wide-ranging provisions not to report them to the authorities within 24 hours.”

Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries, where sodomy laws were introduced during colonialism. In Uganda, homosexual acts are punishable by 14 years to life in prison, according to rights activists.

This is absolutely terrifying - for the second time - and we will not let it go through. I’m sure leaders across the world will be speaking out soon.