Govt ‘should condemn Uganda’
Federal Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young successfully moved a motion on February 10 calling on the Gillard Government to formally condemn homophobic violence and laws criminalising sexual minorities in Uganda.
The motion called for the Senate to note, 鈥淭he increase in incitement and acts of homophobic violence in Uganda in the recent months 鈥� in particular, the murder of leading gay rights activist David Kato.鈥�
The motion also recognised, 鈥淭he Ugandan Government鈥檚 Anti-Homosexuality Bill seek[ing] to criminalise homosexuality and impose the death penalty on HIV positive people who have sex,鈥� and, 鈥渕edia outlets in Uganda [that] are actively encouraging the killing of homosexuals鈥�.
Finally, the motion called on the federal Government to 鈥渃ondemn homophobic violence in Uganda and moves to criminalise homosexuality鈥�.
Hanson-Young, who is the Greens spokeswoman on sexuality and gender identity, told the Star Observer that Australia had an obligation to condemn what she termed 鈥渁bhorrent homophobia鈥�.
鈥淚 am glad that the Senate supported my motion and hope that the Government backs this up with diplomatic action,鈥� she said.
Following the murder of David Kato, US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly condemned homophobia in Uganda. Hanson-Young hoped their Australian counterparts would now do the same.
鈥淚 would like to see Prime Minister [Julia] Gillard and Foreign Minister [Kevin] Rudd issue a public statement condemning homophobia in Uganda,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t is critical that Australia shows leadership on this issue 鈥� we should be exerting diplomatic pressure on the Ugandan Government.鈥�
I just read this. I have been doing grassroots stuff against the anti homosexuality bill for two years.I will be writing to Julia.Has there been any follow up on this?