Uganda Moves Closer to Anti-Gay Legislation

BBC reports Uganda's Parliament is moving forward with legislation further criminalizing homosexual acts, "promotion of homosexuality," and demanding civil rights for sexual minorities. In response to near-universal condemnation from more developed countries, Uganda's lawmakers have dropped the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" -- "defined," BBC reports, "as when one of the participants is a minor, HIV-positive, disabled or a 'serial offender'." Constitutional challenges are expected if the legislation is enacted.

Supporters of the legislation argue it is needed to prevent the spread of HIV. At XIX International AIDS Conference, this past July in Washington, D.C., Ugandan Dr. Paul Semugoma told Conference delegates what impact such laws actually have: they actively promote the spread of HIV by bringing condom distribution programs for men who have sex with men under the umbrella of "promotion of homosexuality." You can go to jail for doing HIV prevention work with the population most at risk.