Uganda's President backs new anti-gay law
- 10 years ago
It's an issue that's attracted sharp international attention.
But in Uganda, it's not unusual to see a vast display of anti-gay ideals.
Thousands gathered Monday to thank their president for signing a harsh new anti-gay law.
To which President Yoweri Museveni addressed his point of view:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UGANDAN PRESIDENT, YOWERI MUSEVENI, SAYING:
"It is not genetic, it is not congenital, it is behaviour... That's why I said I am now going to sign the bill because I am convinced with the available information that these people are not born like that, they just learn and they can unlearn what they have learned."
Western donors have either stopped, or re-directed about $118 million worth of aid after he signed a law that toughened existing rules against gays.
The new law prescribes life in jail for what it calls "aggravated homosexuality."
Anti-gay bill proposer, David Bahati:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UGANDA ANTI-GAY BILL PROPOSER,
But in Uganda, it's not unusual to see a vast display of anti-gay ideals.
Thousands gathered Monday to thank their president for signing a harsh new anti-gay law.
To which President Yoweri Museveni addressed his point of view:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UGANDAN PRESIDENT, YOWERI MUSEVENI, SAYING:
"It is not genetic, it is not congenital, it is behaviour... That's why I said I am now going to sign the bill because I am convinced with the available information that these people are not born like that, they just learn and they can unlearn what they have learned."
Western donors have either stopped, or re-directed about $118 million worth of aid after he signed a law that toughened existing rules against gays.
The new law prescribes life in jail for what it calls "aggravated homosexuality."
Anti-gay bill proposer, David Bahati:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UGANDA ANTI-GAY BILL PROPOSER,