KAMPALA, March 21 (Reuters) - Uganda's parliament passed a law on Tuesday
making it a crime to identify as LGBT, handing authorities broad powers to
target gay Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence.
More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, already ban same-sex
relations. The new law appears to be the first to outlaw merely identifying as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), according to rights
group Human Rights Watch.
Supporters of the new law say it is needed to punish a broader array of LGBT
activities, which they say threaten traditional values in the conservative and
religious East African nation.
In addition to same-sex intercourse, the law bans promoting and abetting
homosexuality as well as conspiracy to engage in homosexuality.
Violations under the law draw severe penalties, including death for so-called
aggravated homosexuality and life in prison for gay sex. Aggravated
homosexuality involves gay sex with people under the age of 18 or when the
perpetrator is HIV positive, among other categories, according to the law.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa...tq-2023-03-21/