Defending gay rights around the world, as he has done at home, seems to be the full-time job of American President Barack Obama. He was reported to be saying that a bill that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has pledged to sign will mark a "step backward" for all Ugandans and reflect poorly on the country's commitment to protect the human rights of its people.
Obama added that it would represent a serious setback for anyone committed to freedom, justice and equal rights. Unfortunately, he failed to mention that majority of Ugandans also want freedom, justice and equal rights from the minority gays.
"That is why I am so deeply disappointed that Uganda will shortly enact legislation that would criminalize homosexuality," Obama said in a written statement issued from Southern California, where he was spending the weekend.
"The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans and reflect poorly on Uganda's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people. It also will mark a serious setback for all those around the world who share a commitment to freedom, justice and equal rights."
Homosexuality already is illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that criminalizes sex acts "against the order of nature."
Museveni announced last week that he plans to sign the new legislation which prescribes life imprisonment for acts of "aggravated homosexuality." Those acts are defined as sex acts where one of the partners is infected with HIV, sex with minors or the disabled and repeated sexual offenses among consenting adults.
What President Obama should take note of is that Ugandan does not want Western lifestyle. It poses risk to their value about family units. And if the Ugandan law is not hurting or abusing anybody by implementing this law, then President Obama is better advised to stay away from meddling into their own local affairs.
"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," David Bahati, the lawmaker who first introduced the bill, said last year. "Every single day of my life now I am still pushing that it passes."
Obama added that it would represent a serious setback for anyone committed to freedom, justice and equal rights. Unfortunately, he failed to mention that majority of Ugandans also want freedom, justice and equal rights from the minority gays.
"That is why I am so deeply disappointed that Uganda will shortly enact legislation that would criminalize homosexuality," Obama said in a written statement issued from Southern California, where he was spending the weekend.
"The Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, once law, will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans and reflect poorly on Uganda's commitment to protecting the human rights of its people. It also will mark a serious setback for all those around the world who share a commitment to freedom, justice and equal rights."
Homosexuality already is illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that criminalizes sex acts "against the order of nature."
Museveni announced last week that he plans to sign the new legislation which prescribes life imprisonment for acts of "aggravated homosexuality." Those acts are defined as sex acts where one of the partners is infected with HIV, sex with minors or the disabled and repeated sexual offenses among consenting adults.
What President Obama should take note of is that Ugandan does not want Western lifestyle. It poses risk to their value about family units. And if the Ugandan law is not hurting or abusing anybody by implementing this law, then President Obama is better advised to stay away from meddling into their own local affairs.
"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," David Bahati, the lawmaker who first introduced the bill, said last year. "Every single day of my life now I am still pushing that it passes."