The Obama administration on Tuesday
criticized passage of an anti-gay bill in Uganda.
Uganda lawmakers on Friday unanimously
approved the bill, which now awaits the president's signature to
become law.
The measure was first introduced in
2009 and drew international condemnation for including the death
penalty. The bill as passed replaces capital punishment with life
imprisonment for people repeatedly convicted of having consensual sex
with a member of the same sex. The sentence can also be imposed in
cases where one of the partners is HIV-positive, a minor or disabled.
The bill also seeks to outlaw the promotion of homosexuality,
effectively silencing opponents of the measure.
“We are deeply concerned by the
Ugandan Parliament’s passage of anti-homosexuality legislation,”
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement
emailed to On Top Magazine. “As Americans, we believe that
people everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality – and
that no one should face violence or discrimination for who they are
or whom they love. We join those in Uganda and around the world who
appeal for respect for the human rights of LGBT persons and of all
persons.”