An End to Antigay Aid?

The Financial Services Committee of the US House of Representatives passed an amendment Tuesday that "urges Treasury to advocate that governments receiving assistance from the multilateral development institutions do not engage in gross violations of human rights, for example, the denial of freedom of religion, including the right to choose one's own religion, and physical persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity." Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who introduced the measure, cited Uganda, which benefits from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program, as an example of a nation that abuses its LGBT citizens. Frank said the United States should not support providing multilateral bank development funds "to the governments of countries which engage in the physical persecution of people because of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity." The amendment will be added to a bill that outlines budget priorities regarding issues under the committee's jurisdiction. Frank's office said the bill passed with nearly unanimous support, which may win it support in the Budget Committee and the full House.

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