Within 48 hours, the Parliament of Uganda may vote on a previously shelved proposed national law that outlaws homosexuality and provides severe penalties; life imprisonment for persons convicted of same-sex relations and the DEATH PENALTY for serial offenders.

The legislation was proposed last year and met with world wide condemnation forcing Ugandan President Museveni to block the bill's progress. Now continued unrest in the Arab Spring Uprisings has allowed religious extremists to restart the bill's progress. Unless the opposition can delay the bill for two days, the end of the legislative session, the extremists may have enough votes to carry the bill to law.

World wide pressure and outcry forced this bill to be derailed before, and if enough of an outcry is raised now, it will permanently die at the end of this legislative term. AVAAZ.org is organizing a world petition drive to make people aware of this pending insult to humanity. You can add your signature at:
Avaaz - 24 hours to stop Uganda's anti-gay bill!

For additional news coverage of this story:

SOURCES:

Ugandan lawmakers hold hearings on anti-gay bill
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article

Uganda gay activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera hailed
BBC News - Uganda gay activist Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera hailed

Pulling Out All the Stops to Push an Antigay Bill
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/wo.../14uganda.html

Quote |

The Uganda "Kill the Gays" Bill failed to pass due in large part to the worldwide petition drive. Original goal was 1M signatures. The final petition presented to the President of Uganda contained 1.6M signatures from supporters in practically every nation.

Anti-gay bill shelved:
BBC News - Uganda anti-gay bill 'shelved by parliament'

Avaaz's response to the outcome in the Guardian:
Uganda anti-gay bill pushed out of parliament | World news | guardian.co.uk

Ugandan President did not back bill because of "criticism of human rights groups":
No vote: Future of Uganda's anti-gay bill in limbo

Anti-gay bill delayed amid outcry:
Uganda shelves anti-gay bill: News24: Africa: News

Uganda's "kill the gays" bill defeated:
Uganda's kill the gays bill shelved again | Top News | Reuters

Quote |

What is amazing to me is that your post here is the first and only I heard of this being brought for a vote...

I saw it to late for the petition - but thank you for posting it.

Quote |

The only real problem Uganda is wrestling with are gay guys. Rite!

It takes a really poor and desperate country to come up with such a level a stupidity...

KD

Quote |

Let's not forget that it wasn't that long ago in this Country (actually only last week in Texas) that gays were shunned, undeserving of equal police protection resulting in beatings, and even killed. All for being gay. Civilization is a very thin veneer on our society. The savage desire to exterminate everyone who is outside of our clan or is different lurks not far beneath the surface. If we ignore injustice just because it does not directly affect our person, how can we expect others to come to our defense when injustice finally knocks on our door.

Quote |