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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: press@ccrjustice.org

CCR Condemns Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill Signed into Law Today

Rights Group Holds U.S. Extremist Among Those Responsible for Persecution of LGBTI Ugandans

WASHINGTON

Today, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) issued the following statement in response to reports that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has signed the notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law:

In addition to putting the lives of LGBTI Ugandans at serious risk, in signing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, President Museveni has criminalized the existence and work of our client, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), and other advocacy organizations in violation of the Ugandan constitution and international law. The Center for Constitutional Rights holds right-wing U.S. evangelical Scott Lively directly responsible: he has been working in Uganda since 2002 to outlaw the speech and assembly of LGBTI people and effectively silence and erase the community from political life.

Just last week he claimed to be launching a new international anti-gay organization based in Illinois, whose first statement was its express support for the repressive Russian laws banning LGBTI advocacy "and to urge other nations of the world to follow the Russian example. " Lively has played a key role in moving forward anti-speech and advocacy laws in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, as well.

The Center for Constitutional Rights will continue the fight to hold Lively accountable in a U.S. court on behalf of our client, Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG).

This dangerous legislation had already stoked a climate of hatred and persecution and led to violence against the LGBTI community in Uganda and Russia.

The case against Scott Lively for persecution of LGBTI people in Uganda survived his motion to dismiss and is currently in the discovery phase.

The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.

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