Cut-off $$ Might be Making Uganda Look the other way

                                                                  

So, Uganda may be softening its stance a bit with its draconian anti-gay law. The Ugandan government has reportedly issued a statement saying that its law is not anti-gay at all — despite its title, the Anti-Homosexuality Act — and that we in the West and others have misunderstood. You see, it was all about protecting the children — even if “other consequences of the law have included arrests, evictions, homes burned down, blackmail, attempted lynchings, kidnappings, torture and attempted suicides,”reports Gay Star News.

The Act’s only purpose, they say, is to ‘stop promotion and exhibition of homosexual practices’. – See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/uganda-claims-law-not-anti-gay070714#sthash.SZNWO7xP.dpuf

Reports Reuters, quoting the Ugandan government statement: “(The law’s) enactment has been misinterpreted as a piece of legislation intended to punish and discriminate against people of a ‘homosexual orientation’, especially by our development partners.”

In fact, the bill’s real purpose was really to stop promotion and exhibition of homosexual practices to children and others,Uganda is saying now. (Think: Russia)

“Development partners”, incidentally, would include international donors who are withholding aid to Uganda because of the legislation.

Now Uganda seems to be saying it won’t crack down as hard as initially feared:

Quotes Reuters: “Uganda reaffirms that no activities of individuals, groups, companies or organisations will be affected by the act,” the statement said.

Gay Star News says the Ugandan government is also offering other assurances:

They also say they will:

Remain committed to the protection of the rights of all individuals on the territory of Uganda and to ensure that nobody takes the law into their hand.

Remain committed to guaranteeing full access to social services, including health and HIV/AID services for all persons in Uganda without discrimination

Will continue to guarantee equal treatment of all persons on the territory of Uganda and respect the constitutional provisions on the right to privacy

Gay rights activists are welcoming the statement, Gay Star reports.

Still, the West needs to adopt a wait and see attitude, perhaps wait for total repeal of the bill, before giving Uganda our hard-earned tax dollars.

– Jillian