Govt ‘should condemn Uganda’

Federal Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young successfully moved a motion on February 10 calling on the Gillard Government to formally condemn homophobic violence and laws criminalising sexual minorities in Uganda.

The motion called for the Senate to note, “The increase in incitement and acts of homophobic violence in Uganda in the recent months — in particular, the murder of leading gay rights activist David Kato.”

The motion also recognised, “The Ugandan Government’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill seek[ing] to criminalise homosexuality and impose the death penalty on HIV positive people who have sex,” and, “media outlets in Uganda [that] are actively encouraging the killing of homosexuals”.

Finally, the motion called on the federal Government to “condemn homophobic violence in Uganda and moves to criminalise homosexuality”.

Hanson-Young, who is the Greens spokeswoman on sexuality and gender identity, told the Star Observer that Australia had an obligation to condemn what she termed “abhorrent homophobia”.

“I am glad that the Senate supported my motion and hope that the Government backs this up with diplomatic action,” she said.

Following the murder of David Kato, US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly condemned homophobia in Uganda. Hanson-Young hoped their Australian counterparts would now do the same.

“I would like to see Prime Minister [Julia] Gillard and Foreign Minister [Kevin] Rudd issue a public statement condemning homophobia in Uganda,” she said.

“It is critical that Australia shows leadership on this issue — we should be exerting diplomatic pressure on the Ugandan Government.”