New Law in Uganda Says Gay Citizens Can Be Sentenced to Life in Prison
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The government of Uganda passed a law Monday that says gay citizens can be forced to serve life prison terms. The anti-gay law also says those who protect gay citizens can be imprisoned.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed the bill Monday, amid pressures from abroad not to allow the controversial legislation, a government spokesman said.
The White House, which sends Uganda more than $400 million in aid each year, spoke out against the law. In a paper statement on Monday, spokesman Jay Carney reiterated what President Obama has said: “[T]his law is more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in Uganda, it reflects poorly on the country’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.”
Watch the full report from ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer:
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