With all the hatred and disparity currently occurring in our own country, it’s hard to hear or read about problems happening outside the U.S.
There are two more speculated cases of Ebola. There are riots because of the verdict on Michael Brown’s case. There is controversy about legalizing undocumented immigrants.
But people often forget that despite these horrible, harrowing events, there are other issues arising around the world simultaneously that are just as significant.
One specific issue defies the basic nature of human rights in Uganda. Ugandan legislation has proposed another law that criminalizes homosexuality. In August, the court struck down an anti-gay bill banning open displays of homosexuality. However, the newest proposition seems more far-reaching than expected.
The Prohibition of Promotion of Unnatural Sexual Practices Bill avoids referencing homosexuality as an innate form of sexual orientation and has added to its existing penal code prohibiting these “unnatural acts.”
The revisions are extreme, intense and unfair.
This could possibly be the case due to the Ugandan gay pride parade (run by the LGBT community) held after the first anti-gay law was ruled invalid a few months earlier.
New laws hope to be implemented within the next two months. According to The Guardian, If a person is caught “promoting homosexuality,” then they are forced to serve a seven-year jail sentence.
If passed, strict guidelines follow this law. Speaking about your sexual orientation on social media or participating in certain human rights group activities (like LGBT) could be accused for promoting homosexuality.
The ridiculous and homophobic proposal made by the Ugandan government is a feeble attempt to increase government approval ratings amongst its citizens.
Since the country is predominantly conservative, the Ugandan government hopes to gain a few popularity points at the expense of homosexual citizens. Draconian ruling on the issue strikes so much fear in people that gay Ugandans are fleeing the country.
I know that the U.S. is not the ideal country to emulate on the issue of gay rights, but there is process being made. Currently sixteen states allow gay marriage and the acceptance of homosexual, bisexual, and pansexual sexual orientation has notably increased in the past fifty years.
People are finally realizing that this innate sexual preference is something that should not be shamed, especially if there is no choice in choosing what gender someone is attracted to.
This statement may seem obvious, but in countries like Uganda, Russia and other conservative countries, citizens do not have the option to freely speak about their sexual orientation. These individuals aren’t “staying” in the closet- they are forced and locked inside.
It defies human rights to suprress an inherent part of your genetic make up. It defies a human’s right to be forced apart from someone they love. And it is highly ignorant to imprison and persecute homosexuals for merely “promoting” their sexual preferences.
