It Took More Than 165 Days, But The White House FINALLY Steps Up and Speaks Out

The first buzz of an “anti-gay” bill that would criminalize homosexuality in Uganda was ignited this past summer. Initially, there were no talks of death penalties and life sentences, but there were talks of restrictions such as forbidding homosexuals to publish literature that advocates for it, as well as denying homosexuals a public political platform. Nobody spoke up against this idea.

In October, however, the tides turned as global news outlets began to report the bills details. Ruling party MP David Bahati began encouraging the death penalty for what he called “aggravated homosexuality,” which amounted to homosexual sex with someone who was disabled, or a homosexual act involving the HIV-positive. A few country’s government expressed “concern,” but again, there was no official recrimination.

Finally, in November, details of the bill reported that those convicted of homosexual activity would be subject to the death penalty or a life sentence in prison. Following the lead of several other international agencies and governments, the State Department released a statement condemning the bill, however there were no talks of attempts to meet directly with Ugandan government leaders in an effort to quell what would be genocide and a human rights violation on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

“We are disturbed by violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice that are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity. We condemn human rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity wherever they occur. We urge states to take all the necessary measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties– in particular, execution arrest or detention. If adopted a bill further criminalizing homosexuality would constitute a significant step backwards for the protection of human rights in Uganda,” the State Department’s statement said.

Now, nearly five months after initial reports were released, and one month after several connections have been made between U.S. religious and political leaders to the bill, the White House has spoken out against it. On the heels of several whom have been “outted” for their involvement in the development and promotion of this bill, President Barack Obama released a statement Friday that condemned the Ugandan government’s efforts to criminalize homosexuality.

“The President strongly opposes efforts, such as the draft law pending in Uganda, that would criminalize homosexuality and move against the tide of history.”

Why is the threat of mass genocide and exceptional public outrage necessary to motivate our religious and government leaders to understand the consequences of their attitudes on homosexuality and gender identity?