WATCH: Occupy Anti-Gay Scott Lively

Scott Lively is one of the masterminds behind Uganda's Anti-Gay movement. Watch as protesters give him a reality check

Ugandan Cabinet Drops the 'Kill the Gays' Bill, but Parliament could move the Bill Forward

Today, I found out about the Ugandan Cabinet tossing the 'Kill the Gays' Bill:

The decision to throw out the Anti-Homosexuality Bill was made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday where Mr Mwesige, according to sources, told ministers that the Bill was unnecessary since government has a number of laws in place criminalising homosexual activities.


“We agreed that government should search the law archives and get some of the laws, enforce them rather than having another new piece of legislation,” a source said. “He [Mwesige] said the Bill is overtaken by events and that donors and other sections of the public were not comfortable.”

While that's good news, Warren Throckmorton post that Parliament still have the bill:

Parliament spokesperson, Helen Kawesa, said that the bill ”is in the Parliament now. It’s Parliament’s property.” She added the Cabinet ministers will “have to argue it out in the Parliament” since the bill is controlled by Parliament and has not yet had a vote.

Kawesa added, “If the Cabinet has issues with it, they will be brought in to the floor of the House.”

Currently, budget meetings are on the agenda but a budget is slated to get a vote by next Wednesday. After that, other business, including the anti-gay bill could be considered. As of now, according to Kawesa, there is no official action scheduled for the Anti-Homosexuality Bill but she said the bill could come up at any time after the budget has been passed.

Will this ever end? KILL THIS BILL already!

David Bahati will Continue to push the 'Kill the Gays' Bill in Uganda

On Friday, the Parliament in Uganda ended the day without discussing the anti-gay bill. However, David (Snake Face) Bahati will fight to bring the bill up for a vote.

Bahati told the news agency that he would re-introduce his bill in February.

“We have made important steps in raising the issue and that will continue,” he said.

I honestly don't see what he would gain from this silly crusade. Other countries have threaten to cut all aid to Uganda. Their credibility will be at stake and David will be a pariah rather than the hero of Uganda. 

With the possibility of losing so much, is this stupid bill worth it?

Somebody better talk to David and his cronies. They could the ones labeled as the fools who destroyed Uganda. 

source

REMIX: Uganda Drops the 'Kill the Gays' Bill from Agenda, But It's Back on for Friday

After several threats from different countries, Uganda has supposedly dropped the anti-gay bill from their agenda.

The future of the bill remained murky. Wednesday was parliament’s last scheduled day of session, and President Yoweri Museveni was scheduled on Thursday to be sworn in after his February re-election. It wasn’t clear if the bill could be carried forward to the next session or if the bill’s author would have to offer a new bill, which he has said he will do if needed.

The original bill would mandate a death sentence in some cases, part of the reason it attracted global attention. The bill’s author, David Bahati, has said a new version of the bill would not contain the death penalty, but no amended version has been released publicly.

One member of parliament, John Alimadi, said Wednesday that the bill may have been dropped from the agenda because of the worldwide outcry against it.

There were petitions, threats of cutting funds and more. I see that parliament didn't want to take the risk. But is completely dead? Only time will tell.

UPDATE Well, time told and vote is back on for Friday!

Helen Kawesa just told me that Parliament has adjourned but will reconvene on Friday to consider the remaining bills on the agenda. They will begin in the morning and work until all of the bills are considered. The intent is to address all bills. The AHB is the last one and is the most vulnerable but with an all day session, it is possible for it to get a third reading. According to Kawesa, Friday is absolutely the last day however as the new Parliament is sworn in on Monday.


According to bill author, David Bahati, the Parliament will meet at 10am and address the remaining four bills on the current order paper. He declined to predict the response of the Parliament but felt sure that the bill would get a debate and discussion.

source

Interesting Quote: Barney Frank

“I’m disturbed by the news that Uganda is considering going ahead with a measure that denies the humanity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

“I was pleased when the Financial Services Committee overwhelmingly, in a bipartisan way, voted in favor of my amendment urging the Secretary of the Treasury to oppose any financial assistance from multilateral development institutions to countries that persecute people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or religious beliefs. In the discussion of the amendment I offered, I specifically mentioned the deeply troubling case of Uganda, which is now considering legislation to legally deprive people of these basic human rights.”

“If the bill before the Ugandan parliament becomes law, it must be the policy of the United States government to oppose any aid to Uganda from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, or any other international financial institution of which we are a member.”

Barney is saying cut off the money honey if Uganda can't get it together

source

In Uganda: 'Kill the Gays' Bill will have a Hearing

This is not good news. Just when you thought the worse was over for the 'Kill The Gay' bill in Uganda, it rears in ugly head once again.

I read over at GayUganda, that the bill is being heard and considered in parliament. Here is his take

Now, the anti-Homosexuality Bill is at present being discussed in the parliament of Uganda. Just today, as I write. Yes, today, Friday the 6^th of May 2011. Committee hearings are reportedly going ahead.

Now, remember that this is the lame duck session of parliament. And, remember that it is supposed to end soon, on 11 May 2011.

And, that on 12 May is the coronation of the King. Uh, do not think that am using my words without real care.

Why is the Anti-Homosexuality Bill being discussed today in parliament? And as a matter of urgency? Pure and simple. DIVERSION.

Less than a week ago, the opposition parties started a 'walk-to-work' peaceful protest. The government responded with over whelming violence. Currently, as I write, the major opposition leader is in neighbouring Kenya, for medical attention for injuries he received during one of his 4 arrests. They sprayed tear gas and pepper direct into his face, after breaking down his car windows. And, this was in full view of the press.

The next day, riots paralysed the country. It was after the video of that arrest was shown on TV. Ugandans, the citizens of the country were appalled. They came out on strike. And, the government responded with overwhelming violence again. So bad that the spectre of Idi Amin Dada, famous dictator and life president of Uganda was raised.

So, the country is in a ferment. With the coronation to happen in just a few days time. So, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill is beind discussed... and ready to be passed.

So, it is a DIVERSION. The government needs a heady diversion for the country. For the outraged citizens of Uganda.

There is more info here. My heart goes out the fam in Uganda. I can not imagine the constant pain and suffering they go through just to be who they were born to be.

In Uganda: 2 Million sign a petition to bring back the 'Kill the Gays' Bill

This is unbelievable to read! After all the protests, the UN support and even threats of losing international funding; 2 million Ugandans want the 'Kill the Gays' back on track.

Anti-homosexuality activists have presented a petition in Parliament, calling for the passing of the anti-gay Bill. The petition, signed by two million people countrywide, was presented to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Ssekandi, yesterday by anti-gay activists led by Pastor Martin Ssempa.


“We are not here to hang the gays as people have speculated but to protect young men and girls being recruited into the practice,” Pastor Ssempa said. They also listed 19 organisations which they claimed are promoting homosexuality in the country.
Mr Ssekandi promised that the Bill would be debated.


“The mover of the Bill (David Bahati) is still a member of the 9th Parliament and even if the current Parliament doesn’t debate it, the new Parliament will do it,” Mr Ssekandi said.
He added: “Since the Bill was tabled, I have received numerous calls from the international community to throw it out but I always tell them that I don’t have those powers.”


Mr Ssekandi also told the team that their petition would be considered by the committee.
The Bill, tabled in Parliament by Mr Bahati as a private members Bill in 2009, seeks among others to imprison for life anyone convicted of “the offence of homosexuality,” punish “aggravated homosexuality” and offences like having gay sex while HIV-positive by a death penalty upon conviction.


It also forbids any “promotion of homosexuality” and incarcerates gay-rights defenders.
Pastor Ssempa said there were allegations of huge sums of money being brought into the country to influence people against passing the Bill.


The Bill is still before the parliamentary Committee on Legal and Parliament Affairs although the committee chair said government Bills before his committee take precedence. 

Who are these people? And do they realized what they are agreeing to? I can't help but to think about the message this sends to the overall LGBT community there. I hope this rejected and thrown out!

source

Uganda puts away the 'Kill the Gays' Bill, for now

The anti-gay bill is shelved for now, but the hateful bastard David Bahati will continue to push it.

Information minister Masiko Kabakumba appeared Thursday on NTV to announce that the administration of President Yoweri Museveni had determined the Anti-Homosexuality Bill to be redundant because other laws already criminalize gay people in the country. The new proposal, which sparked international outcry when it was introduced in 2009, would magnify the penalties to include execution for “aggravated homosexuality,” such as having sex when HIV-positive.


Kabakumba said that another law, the Sexual Offenses Bill, would cover any outstanding concerns, but Bahati, the lawmaker with connections to antigay American evangelicals, insisted that a “specific and clear” law is still needed to fight the “promotion” of homosexuality. In addition, Warren Throckmorton reports that Bahati has been assured by legal and parliamentary affairs committee chair Stephen Tashobya that debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill will proceed.


Bahati said that “95%” of Ugandans do not support homosexuality, a claim that Kabakumba did not challenge.


“Of course we are concerned,” she said. “We don’t condone homosexuality in our country.”

source

The 'Kill The Gays' Bill is Alive and Moving Forward

This damn bill just won't die! There were warnings before, but this looks legit. The anti-gay hate bill is heading to the House in Uganda.

The controversial Anti Homosexuality bill is one of several bills that Members of Parliament on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee are set to debate when the House resumes business next week.

The bill, which has caused uproar from human rights activists and donors since it was tabled in Parliament in 2009, seeks to criminalize the act, with one of the controversial clauses calling for death penalty for those who are found guilty of aggravated homosexuality.

Speaking to the media at Parliament today, the committee chairman, Stephen Tashobya said though the bill has created both local and international concern, it is up to Parliament to pass the bill.

Tashobya says the committee will hold public hearings where stakeholders’ views will be heard and a report made to the House for debate and possible passing before Parliament closes the 8th Parliament.

Ndorwa West MP and mover of the bill, David Bahati welcomed the development and said he would continue to lobby Ugandans to support the bill, whose intention is to protect the Ugandan traditional family and children. 

 I hope the message the Obama team sent to UN get on this fast!

source

Rachel Maddow interviews the horrid David Bahati

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The "Kill the Gays" Bill is not DEAD, it may still Pass

I thought, hoped it was over, but it's not.

The infamous Kill the Gays bill lives and may soon pass.

The member of the Ugandan Parliament behind a controversial "anti-gay" bill that would call for stiff penalties against homosexuality -- including life imprisonment and the death penalty -- says that the bill will become law "soon."

"We are very confident," David Bahati told CNN, "because this is a piece of legislation that is needed in this country to protect the traditional family here in Africa, and also protect the future of our children."

Governments that have donated aid to Uganda and human rights groups applied massive pressure since the bill was proposed a year ago, and most believed that the bill had been since shelved.

Not so, says Bahati, adding, "Every single day of my life now I am still pushing that it passes."

Ugh, I hate that David Bahati! Also here's another slam. Giles Muhame, an editor of Rolling Stone, talks about how homosexuality is a virus and just plain wrong.




source