Anti-gay Law in Uganda and Why They Use Treatment Methods?!
The anti-gay bill was signed by the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni in May. It is considered to be one of the harshest laws against homosexuality not only in Africa - it bans gay marriages in Uganda, punishes same-sex acts with life imprisonment and calls for death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" - which involves sex with a minor or another vulnerable person. having sex with HIV positive and incest. A large part of the LGBTQ community are representatives of Gen Z.
An important component of this law is the proposal of the Ugandan parliament to use "treatment" therapy to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity through psychotherapy, medication, electroshock therapy, exorcism and "corrective" rape. Firing from work, expulsion from home, blackmail, threats are often applied. Conversion therapy causes psychological trauma and harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people.
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These "treatment methods" violate the basic human rights of LGBTQI+ people. Conversion therapy is cruel, forceful, invasive and includes degrading treatments such as torture and rape. These practices cause significant emotional harm, leading to increased depression, anxiety, self-loathing, and suicidal ideas.
Several countries, such as France, Spain and Cyprus, have banned conversion therapy, but no African country has yet done so. Uganda should review its anti-homosexuality law. It goes against Uganda's constitution, which promises protection and fair representation for minority groups. Anti-gay laws encourage violence against the LGBTQI+ community.
The anti-gay law passed in Uganda was strongly condemned by the United Nations and the European Union. The World Bank has said it will suspend new loans to Uganda because of the controversial anti-LGBTQ law.
