United Nations: Tabloids publishing lists ‘exposing’ gay people shows danger of Uganda’s anti-gay law

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The United Nations has hit out at the publication of a list of the “200 top” gay people by a Ugandan tabloid, to say it shows the danger of a newly-introduced anti-gay law.

Just one day after the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the Red Pepper newspaper featured a front-page story under the headline “EXPOSED”.

The list of 200 people features prominent gay rights activist Pepe Julian Onziema, a hip-hop artist and a Catholic priest.

It nodded to a 2011 report by a now closed newspaper which called for the execution of gay people.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights put out a statement condeming the list.

It said: “The publication by a newspaper in Uganda of the names and photos of people it claims are homosexual not only violates the right to privacy, it also demonstrates the very real danger that the new anti-homosexuality law will encourage acts of violence and harassment against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.”

redpepper

President Yoweri Museveni signed the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill in front of politicians and reporters on Monday at State House, his official residence in Entebbe.

The law calls for repeat offenders to be sentenced to 14 years in prison and makes it a criminal offence not to report someone for being gay.

US Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday compared the bill with the treatment of Jewish people in Nazi Germany and black people during apartheid in South Africa.

Kerry also said his country is now reviewing its relations with Uganda, following Museveni’s decision to sign anti-gay legislation.

Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands today became the first three countries to cut their aid to Uganda following the decision to sign the bill by Museveni.

Sweden has also said it will review its aid spending.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for an end to a political agreement with Uganda over the law.

Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was “an abhorrent backwards step for human rights”.