Planned Parenthood Joins Emergency Day of Action on April 25 to Protest Hate and Bigotry and Stand in Solidarity with the LGBTQI+ Community

March 21, 2023 was a sad day for Uganda, and for the world, as the country’s parliament passed a bill criminalizing people who identify as LGBTQI+ and imposing the death penalty for some offenses. This Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) is a clear violation of human rights and will have a devastating impact on the lives of LGBTQI+ people in Uganda. Although the bill is not yet in effect, there has been an increase in reported evictions, blackmail, and verbal and physical harassment experienced by the LGBTQI+ community in the country.

Statement from Lori Adelman, VP of Global Connect, Planned Parenthood Global

“As an organization committed to strengthening and advancing sexual and reproductive health care rights and access around the world, Planned Parenthood Global stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda and human rights for all. For over 50 years we have backed brave partners in the advancement of bold and courageous social justice movements and leaders including in Uganda.”

Planned Parenthood Global stands shoulder to shoulder with Convening for Equality (CFE) who is leading the fight in Uganda and expressed: “This Bill means anyone’s identity, how we express ourselves, will be policed and criminalized.Society will be weaponized and turned into the police to forcefully out and report suspected gender and sexual minorities including family members. The right to privacy and minding your own business is now a thing of the past as one is expected to know what your neighbor or tenant is doing within the confines of their homes. This Bill will deny gender and sexual minorities access to basic social services like shelter, healthcare, education, food as mandated by the constitution, because all the service providers for these have a legal duty to report gender and sexual minorities and if they do not it means jail for them.”

The AHB criminalizes the existence of LGBTQI+ Ugandans, the provision of services for LGBTQI+ Ugandans, and the dissemination of information that acknowledges the right to exist and live peacefully as law abiding citizens. If signed into law, this bill would make it a crime to identify as LGBTQI+ and would give authorities increased powers to target sexual minorities in the country, who already face criminalization and violence. The Bill requires all Ugandans to report any person suspected of being LGBTQI+ to the authorities and forbids the provision of shelter of a homosexual on one's premises. It creates an environment of mistrust among citizens and neighbors.

Planned Parenthood Global boldly condemns the AHB in the strongest terms and denounce this bill and the anti-gay rhetoric it promotes. We emphatically urge President Museveni to withhold his approval and not enact it into law as it violates personal freedoms and fuels the perpetuation of hatred against fellow human beings. We hold the Ugandan government accountable to its national, regional, and international human rights obligations to all its citizens; safeguarding the human rights of each individual, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

We invite US-based advocates to join us on the Global Day of Action, Tuesday, April 25. More information here.

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Planned Parenthood Global is the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Partnering with over 70 organizations across ten focus countries in Africa and Latin America, we are dedicated to advancing the health and rights of young people, women and families, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and underserved. Each year, Planned Parenthood Global partners provide sexual and reproductive health information and services to nearly 2 million people. Our unique sustainability model sets us apart, as we empower partners to develop and strengthen solid reproductive health programs, identify other sources of funding, develop strategic plans, and build communications and advocacy skills.

March 21, 2023 was a sad day for Uganda, and for the world, as the country’s parliament passed a bill criminalizing people who identify as LGBTQI+ and imposing the death penalty for some offenses. This Anti-Homosexuality Bill (AHB) is a clear violation of human rights and will have a devastating impact on the lives of LGBTQI+ people in Uganda. Although the bill is not yet in effect, there has been an increase in reported evictions, blackmail, and verbal and physical harassment experienced by the LGBTQI+ community in the country.

Statement from Lori Adelman, VP of Global Connect, Planned Parenthood Global

“As an organization committed to strengthening and advancing sexual and reproductive health care rights and access around the world, Planned Parenthood Global stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda and human rights for all. For over 50 years we have backed brave partners in the advancement of bold and courageous social justice movements and leaders including in Uganda.”

Planned Parenthood Global stands shoulder to shoulder with Convening for Equality (CFE) who is leading the fight in Uganda and expressed: “This Bill means anyone’s identity, how we express ourselves, will be policed and criminalized.Society will be weaponized and turned into the police to forcefully out and report suspected gender and sexual minorities including family members. The right to privacy and minding your own business is now a thing of the past as one is expected to know what your neighbor or tenant is doing within the confines of their homes. This Bill will deny gender and sexual minorities access to basic social services like shelter, healthcare, education, food as mandated by the constitution, because all the service providers for these have a legal duty to report gender and sexual minorities and if they do not it means jail for them.”

The AHB criminalizes the existence of LGBTQI+ Ugandans, the provision of services for LGBTQI+ Ugandans, and the dissemination of information that acknowledges the right to exist and live peacefully as law abiding citizens. If signed into law, this bill would make it a crime to identify as LGBTQI+ and would give authorities increased powers to target sexual minorities in the country, who already face criminalization and violence. The Bill requires all Ugandans to report any person suspected of being LGBTQI+ to the authorities and forbids the provision of shelter of a homosexual on one's premises. It creates an environment of mistrust among citizens and neighbors.

Planned Parenthood Global boldly condemns the AHB in the strongest terms and denounce this bill and the anti-gay rhetoric it promotes. We emphatically urge President Museveni to withhold his approval and not enact it into law as it violates personal freedoms and fuels the perpetuation of hatred against fellow human beings. We hold the Ugandan government accountable to its national, regional, and international human rights obligations to all its citizens; safeguarding the human rights of each individual, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity. 

We invite US-based advocates to join us on the Global Day of Action, Tuesday, April 25. More information here.

###

Planned Parenthood Global is the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Partnering with over 70 organizations across ten focus countries in Africa and Latin America, we are dedicated to advancing the health and rights of young people, women and families, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable and underserved. Each year, Planned Parenthood Global partners provide sexual and reproductive health information and services to nearly 2 million people. Our unique sustainability model sets us apart, as we empower partners to develop and strengthen solid reproductive health programs, identify other sources of funding, develop strategic plans, and build communications and advocacy skills.