US urges Uganda to reconsider new anti-LGBT law
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said anti-LGBT draft legislation passed by Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday undermines fundamental human rights and urged the government to reconsider implementing it.
The hastily passed bill says anyone identifying as LGBT could face a long prison sentence.
Individuals belonging to organisations supporting minority rights could also go to jail.
The legislation goes much further than Uganda’s existing laws which ban the homosexual activity.
To become law it needs to be signed by President Yoweri Museveni, who has expressed anti-LGBT sentiment.
Rights groups and opposition politicians have said the bill promotes homophobia and transphobia.