NEW YORK, — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay have spoken out against the anti-homosexuality law signed into force in Uganda, saying it violates basic human rights and endangers lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the country. The law criminalizes and imposes life imprisonment for homosexuality,…
Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni signed a law imposing harsh penalties for homosexuality today, defying protests from rights groups, criticism from Western donors and a U.S. warning that it will complicate relations. Reuters reported that the new bill strengthened existing punishments for anyone caught having gay sex, imposing jail terms of up to life for “aggravated…
President Obama has condemned the decision by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to sign an archaic anti-gay bill into law. The bill, which once even included the death penalty, calls for gay Ugandans or anyone “promoting” homosexuality to be jailed – potentially for life. Museveni made the decision to sign the bill after consulting with a…
In a landmark moment for LGBT rights the Scottish Parliament has passed the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill with an overwhelming majority of 105 votes to 18. Thirty-four years after Scotland decriminalized homosexuality, this victory comes after heated debates between religious bodies and MSPs (members of the Scottish Parliament) since the first petition was…
Uganda has passed its anti-LGBT law that has been under consideration since 2009. The law does not include the death penalty provision it once did, but rather imprisons LGBT people for life. “Uganda’s anti-LGBT law specifically targets LGBT people with brutal persecution and is one of the worst human rights violations of our time.” said Ross…
Today New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie instructed his attorney general to withdraw the state’s appeal of a court decision bringing marriage equality to the Garden State. This action makes New Jersey the 14th state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia, where lesbian and gay couples can marry. In a statement the…
WASHINGTON – Claims made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that international LGBT visitors to Russia would be safe during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi appear to be coming apart at the seams today as Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko declared that all LGBT athletes within Russian borders will be very much at risk…
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) legislation to extend benefits to same-sex military couples cleared a major legislative hurdle yesterday after it passed the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee on a bipartisan voice vote. The Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act would update and expand federal benefits for legally married, same-sex veteran couples and help put…
In February, San Diego LGBT Pride announced the theme of the 39th annual Pride celebration weekend – Freedom to Love and Marry. At the time of the announcement, San Diego Pride Public Affairs Director Fernando Lopez said, “We are standing at a critical moment in our movement when the very question of our ability to…
Late Friday Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) and 28 conservative cosponsors introduced a federal constitutional amendment in the House of Representatives, which would define marriage in the United States as the union of one man and one woman. The proposed amendment stated, “Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and…
