Last month, Desmond Tutu spoke to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni urging him to not sign the heinous "kill the gays" bill. Tutu released a statement today wherein he expressed his disappointment regarding news that the leader is still considering signing the bill into law.
Said Tutu:
"When President Museveni and I spoke last month, he gave his word that he would not let the anti-homosexuality bill become law in Uganda. I was therefore very disheartened to hear last week that President Museveni was reconsidering his position….We must be entirely clear about this: the history of people is littered with attempts to legislate against love or marriage across class, caste, and race. But there is no scientific basis or genetic rationale for love. There is only the grace of God. There is no scientific justification for prejudice and discrimination, ever. And nor is there any moral justification. Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, among others, attest to these facts."
Tutu suggests Museveni focus not on homosexuality but instead actual crimes occurring in Uganda:
"To strengthen criminal sanctions against those who commit sexual acts with children, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. To strengthen criminal sanctions against all acts of rape and sexual violence, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. And, if needs be, to strengthen criminal sanctions against those involved in commercial sexual transactions – buyers and sellers – regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Tightening such areas of the law would surely provide children and families far more protection than criminalising acts of love between consenting adults."
Just last week, Museveni asked that Uganda work with the United States to gather more information about gays and lesbians.
