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LABOUR LBGT HAVE spoken out against an announcement by a senior political figure in Uganda, who said the country intends to pass an extreme homophobic law that includes a provision prescribing the death penalty for gay people.
Louise Hannon, Co-Chair of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group in the Labour Party said: “We are extremely disturbed to hear that this odious proposal, known as the ‘Kill The Gays Bill’, has been revived, after an international outcry saw it being shelved last year. It is simply unconscionable that such an idea would even be considered in the 21st century.”
Read: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill (2009)
Parliamentarian David Bahati first introduced the bill, which carried the death penalty for some homosexual acts, in 2009. It was widely supported in Uganda – however its progress was slowed by an international outcry, including condemnation from US President Barack Obama.
Homosexuality, already illegal under Uganda’s penal code, is highly stigmatised in the country. Several popular newspapers engage in ‘outing’ members of society as gay – a practise which has led to violence and death.
One Ugandan rights activist whose name appeared on a tabloid hitlist, David Kato, was beaten to death in his home after Rolling Stone newspaper (no connection to the US magazine) published his photograph, and the names, photos, addresses of many members of the LGBT community, next to a headline reading “Hang Them” in late 2010.
“Uganda is a priority donor country for Irish Aid and so we need to use all the influence at our disposal to help stop this horrific law in its tracks. We also must be prepared to review our aid commitments to the Ugandan government in the context of this issue,” said Hannon.
She noted that the British and Swedish governments had already made threats to freeze aid to Uganda if the anti-gay law is passed.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said last year that he wanted to “see countries that receive our aid adhering to proper human rights”.
“LGBT people in Uganda and Africa more generally, already face extreme discrimination amid an atmosphere of State sanctioned homophobia,” said Hannon. “This abhorrent ‘Kill The Gays’ Bill will make their lives even more difficult, and the international community, including Ireland, must do everything in our power to ensure that this draconian piece of legislation is shelved for good.”
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Polar vortex heading our way. Most of Europe will be in the minus teens next week. Ireland minus 2 and 3. Hopefully this is the last blast of Winter
@saoirse janneau: what a time to have an airlock in my radiators. Oil must have been nicked from my tank.. it seems it went from half full to empty in 4 weeks and I’m out Mon to Fri 9 to 5. Now I have oil and no radiators working :(
@Peter Cavey: easily enough to fix. Just google the name of the boiler and it usually involves loosening a screw until the oil comes out
@phil: Water comes out, oil doesn’t go into the radiators.
@Peter: Sometimes you need to bleed the boiler. If all of his rads are cold it’s his boiler that’s the problem.
-2° in Leitrim now, this has been a long chilly winter here!
@Dorothy Giselsson: at least it’s lovely though ;)
Next week could see significant snowfall in places. One of the Models took a step back this morning however. It will be bitterly cold with temps struggling to get above freezing during the day. If it snows it will be proper powdery not the wet shite we get from the Atlantic.
@phil: That’a a relief. Can’t be doing with that wet shore. Proper snow is what we deserve.
@phil: yeah cant have another episode of “the wrong type of snow fell” again
@phil: The year of the big snow in 1947 which I often heard the old people talking about, the snow didn’t hit till the end of February. Hopefully we’ll just have a light dusting.
A lot of comments moaning about Met Eireann issuing lots of warnings. I for one appreciate the forcasts and understand they can’t be 100% of the time.
I can’t wait for the yellow warnings when we hit temperatures with double numbers. Break out the sun screen!
God help the homeless! Hopefully all who can will be sheltered.
The beast from the east. However most people don’t believe it. Can’t blame them. Lows of – 10 and heavy snow is predicted. Met office UK gave a 30 forecast other day which was laughable at best considering most reputable weather monitoring stations give ten day forecast.
@James O’Brien: The UK met office always air on the side if caution regarding long range forecast.
@James O’Brien: they couldn’t get clarity 30 days especially after a ssw took place .peoole in east irl uk should prepare it’s going to get very messy this isn’t just 2 days this could last weeks last time we saw ssw was 2013 2010
It’s the Beast from the East!! Where’s Dwayne Johnson when you need him?? I think I’ll hedge my bets and wait and see what happens…. no panic buying on the tins of beans just yet.
I’d rather the porn vortex
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=porn%20vortex
I don’t get why February is considered spring in Ireland. To me it’s considered winter as in the rest of Europe. I don’t expect somewhat warmer conditions until March tbh.
Next 2 weeks of frozen hell?
have your say