Whereas a bill introduced on October 14, 2009, by a member
of Parliament in Uganda would expand penalties for homosexuality to include the
death penalty and requires citizens to report information about homosexuality
to the police or face imprisonment;
Whereas many countries criminalize homosexuality, and in
some countries, such as Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, the penalty for
homosexuality includes the death penalty;
Whereas the United States, in seeking to promote the core
American principles of equality and Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness,
has long championed the universality of human rights;
Whereas religious leaders in the United States, along with
representatives from the Vatican and the Anglican Church, have stated that laws
criminalizing homosexuality are unjust; and
Whereas the people and Government of the United States
recognize that such laws undermine our commitment to combating HIV/AIDS
globally through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by
stigmatizing and criminalizing vulnerable communities: Now, therefore, be
it
That the Senate—
(1)calls on members
of the Parliament in Uganda to reject the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill
recently proposed in that country;
(2)urges the
governments of all countries to reject and repeal similar criminalization laws;
and
(3)encourages the
Secretary of State to closely monitor human rights abuses that occur because of
sexual orientation and to encourage the repeal or reform of laws such as the
proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill
in Uganda that permit such
abuses.
April 13, 2010
Reported without amendment