Uganda government distances itself from anti-gay bill
Pride participants celebrate with a rainbow flag.
Image by: STRINGER/BRAZIL / REUTERS
Image by: STRINGER/BRAZIL / REUTERS
Uganda's government says it does not support a parliamentarian's decision to reintroduce a bill that originally proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts.
A government statement late on Wednesday says the bill is not part of the government's legislative agenda, but that debate on it must proceed under the constitution.
The bill was reintroduced 9on Tuesday by legislator David Bahati, who said when he first introduced the bill in 2009 that his goal was to protect Ugandan children from Western gays who lure them with money and other promises.
Advocacy groups and Western leaders have denounced the bill. Analysts say it would be passed immediately but that it hasn't been considered only because it lacks the political blessing of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
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