[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 100 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 100

Honoring the life of David Kato and all who are victims of violence in 
     Uganda because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 17, 2011

Mr. Gutierrez (for himself, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, 
    Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Polis, and Mr. Payne) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the life of David Kato and all who are victims of violence in 
     Uganda because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Whereas Uganda has experienced decades of political unrest;
Whereas the Government of Uganda has systematically repressed dissenting voices;
Whereas the United States Government provides $456,800,000 in military and 
        humanitarian aid to Uganda each year in addition to the annual World 
        Bank commitment of $100,000,000;
Whereas basic human rights and civil liberties are already under threat in 
        Uganda and in the surrounding region for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
        transgender (LGBT) individuals;
Whereas the Ugandan Parliament is considering legislation to further criminalize 
        homosexuality, even imposing the death penalty and further compromising 
        basic civil rights;
Whereas the Ugandan Parliament is considering legislation that turns neighbor 
        against neighbor, and family member against family member by requiring 
        reporting of friends and family who identify as LGBT to government 
        authorities;
Whereas the debate around the proposed legislation has promoted a climate of 
        fear and insecurity throughout Uganda and has led to deadly acts of 
        violence;
Whereas David Kato began fighting for LGBT rights in Uganda upon return from 
        Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1998;
Whereas after witnessing the transition from apartheid and the growth of rights 
        for LGBT people in South Africa, Mr. Kato began fighting for similar 
        acceptance in Uganda;
Whereas despite adversity, Mr. Kato campaigned for LGBT rights in addition to 
        his work as a school teacher, helping to develop HIV/AIDS policies with 
        a number of organizations;
Whereas when the legislation criminalizing homosexuality was proposed, Mr. Kato 
        decided to quit his work as a school teacher and dedicate his life to 
        the campaign for the rights of LGBT people;
Whereas Mr. Kato's name and picture were published in a Ugandan magazine along 
        with other potential homosexuals under the headline ``Hang Them'';
Whereas although the Ugandan High Court ruled that such media attention violated 
        human dignity and the right to privacy, threats continued, and on 
        January 26, 2011, Mr. Kato was beaten to death with a hammer in his 
        home;
Whereas the gruesome nature of Mr. Kato's death has had a chilling effect for 
        all human rights defenders and normalizes violence against vulnerable 
        people;
Whereas international human rights organizations continue to call for a proper 
        investigation by the Ugandan police into Mr. Kato's vicious murder;
Whereas intimidation, violence, and the threat of violence continues against 
        defenders and allies of LGBT individuals and the broader society with 
        the apparent acquiescence of the state;
Whereas many of the crimes against LGBT persons have gone unpunished; and
Whereas the Government of Uganda, like all other nations, has an obligation to 
        uphold human rights based upon international treaties and its own High 
        Court rulings: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the life of David Kato and all who are victims 
        of violence in Uganda because of their sexual orientation or 
        gender identity;
            (2) calls on the global community to fill the void that is 
        left by the tragic murder of Mr. Kato and to continue to 
        passionately advocate for the human rights of all individuals;
            (3) urges the Government of Uganda to thoroughly 
        investigate Mr. Kato's death and to share its findings with the 
        international community;
            (4) condemns the atmosphere of anti-gay sentiment that 
        supports and endorses violence against the LGBT community; and
            (5) calls on the Government of Uganda, as friends of the 
        Ugandan Government and, more importantly, the Ugandan people, 
        to ensure that all of its citizens can live openly and freely, 
        without threat of violence or reprisal.
                                 <all>