Ten Things to Oppose the Anti-Homosexuality Legislation in Uganda

Although homosexuality is criminalized in 80 countries, the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 is the most egregious attempt to sanction homophobia and threaten the human rights of all its citizens. The bill, introduced by parliamentary member David Bahati and strongly influenced by US religious right, previously called for the death penalty for "any form of sexual relations between persons of the same sex," now making homosexual conduct punishable by up to life imprisonment. Other features of the bill include extraterritorial jurisdiction to punish gay Ugandans living out of state and up to three years imprisonment for anyone who refuses to report the existence of any perceived LGBTI individuals to the police.

US coverage of the proposed legislation would have you believe that the outcry for justice for the Ugandans is coming predominantly from international condemnation in opposition to bigoted Ugandans. Local activists say that though the bill plays on existing homophobia in the country, Ugandan opposition to the bill is at all time high. A 26 organization coalition, which includes religious groups, is at the forefront of the fight against this proposed human rights violation and is reaching out to the international community to bolster support in opposition the bill. Here are ten ways to oppose this legislation and stand up for human rights wherever you are.

1. Learn about the anti-gay movement in Africa. The legislation proposed in Uganda is not an isolated incident. Similar legislation was proposed in Rwanda, Nigeria and Burundi passed theirs earlier this year. Read African Intimacies: Race, Homosexuality and Globalization by Neville Wallace Hoad and Off The Map by Cary Alan Johnson. Read Rev. Kapya Kaoma's report on US religious right involvement in Africa, "Globalizing the Culture Wars".

2. Make them return to Uganda. Many of the US Evangelicals including Scott Lively, founder of Abiding Truth Ministries; and Caleb Lee Brundidge of International Healing Foundation were part of a conference that was credited for sparking the controversial legislation, have since backed away from their involvement of the strongly worded bill. Rick Warren who has called Uganda a "Purpose Driven nation" and has close ties to Rev. Martin Ssempa a key supporter of the bill has issued a video distancing himself from the creation of the bill. But this is not enough. Write to these religious leaders' respective churches and demand that they return to Uganda and publicly denounce the bill that they help created.

3. Contact your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor on to the Resolution passed. The resolution was passed after hard work by Congressmembers Carolyn Maloney and Jared Polis, who has openly condemned the bill.

4. Donate to the American Jewish World Service's URGENT LGBT UGANDA FUND to support Ugandan grassroots organizations working to defend the rights of sexual minorities.

5. Support HIV/ AIDS prevention efforts in Uganda The bill will impede the efforts of organizations working to combat HIV/ AIDS by directly persecuting groups, doctors and activist that work to circumvent the growing rates of those infected. Support the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) and its work to prevent HIV by addressing one of the epidemic's structural causes--violence against women.

6. One of the bases of the bills is the false assertion that there is a 'gay agenda' to recruit children to a life of homosexuality. Organizations such as Raising Voices, a Ugandan based organization formed to combat violence against women and children, has been falsely accused of involvement and support of the bill. Support Raising Voices and other like minded organizations' efforts to end violence and abuse of children.

7. Join facebook groups condemning the bill and stay informed of the news and actions taking place to protest it. Read the blog GayUganda for ongoing coverage on the anti-gay agenda in the country.

8. Fight the anti-gay movement in America. Since the bill has direct roots in America, it's integral to ending this legislation by fighting the cause of it at home. Truth Wins Out, an organization dedicated to fighting anti-gay misinformation, has outlined actions to take against what they call "the right wing multi million dollar culture war."

9. Join the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and Sexual Minorities of Uganda in condemning the bill. Copy the sample letter and send it to the email, fax or physical addresses of the influential leaders in Uganda all listed on the website.

10. Fight homophobia in your religious or social groups. The bill came from underlying anti-gay sentiments in the society and translated into legislation with the help of religious leaders. Stop any form of homophobia before it goes from part of a religious service to state sanction persecution of a minority group and a human rights violation.