Uganda Parliament passes anti-gay bill
“I am officially illegal.”
—Frank Mugisha, head of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), following the Ugandan Parliament’s passage of a bill that, while no longer including the death penalty, allows for life imprisonment for those who do not report gay people to authorities. (BBC) (Photo by Julian Vankim/Metro Weekly)
“I am glad the Parliament has voted against evil. … Because we are a God-fearing nation, we value life in a holistic way. It is because of those values that members of Parliament passed this bill, regardless of what the outside world thinks.” (AFP)
–David Bahati, minister of Parliament who introduced the bill, hailing its passage.
According to BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga, reporting from Kampala, Uganda, questions have been raised about the Parliament failing to secure a quorum for the vote, as well as whether or not President Yoweri Museveni would sign the legislation.
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