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115-527: The Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 was an act passed by the Parliament of Uganda on 20 December 2013, which prohibited sexual relations between persons of the same sex. The act was previously called the " Kill the Gays bill " in the western mainstream media due to death penalty clauses proposed in the original version, but the penalty was later amended to life imprisonment . The bill was signed into law by

230-474: A passive sexual role according to Kenneth Dover , though this has been questioned by recent scholars. It is unclear how such relations between same-sex partners were regarded in the general society, especially for women, but examples do exist as far back as the time of Sappho . The ancient Greeks did not conceive of sexual orientation as a social identity as modern Western societies have done. Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by

345-402: A 'man' in terms of the sexual union. Hubbard and James Davidson argue however that there is insufficient evidence that a man was considered effeminate for being passive in sex alone. For example, the lowborn protagonist of Aristophanes ' play The Knights openly admits to having been a passive partner. An elaborate social code governed the mechanics of Greek pederasty. It was the duty of

460-512: A beard in paintings and pottery, while Achilles is clean-shaven, although Achilles was an almost godlike figure in Greek society. This led to a disagreement about which to perceive as erastes and which eromenos among elites such as Aeschylus and Pausanias , since Homeric tradition made Patroclus out to be older but Achilles stronger. It has been noted, however, that the depictions of characters on pottery do not represent reality and may cater to

575-588: A difficult if not impossible task to carry out." The Anglican Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha said that the bill "would become state-legislated genocide ". Following private discussions with the Church of Uganda , the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said in a public interview that he did not see how any Anglican could support it. Divisions emerged within the Anglican community. In response to

690-580: A gay marriage. Furthermore, the act enables the Ugandan government to rescind international and regional commitments it deems outside of the interest of the act's provisions. Same-sex relationships have been illegal in Uganda since colonial rule  – as they are in many African countries , especially former British colonies – and before this Act was passed, they were punishable by incarceration in prison for up to 14 years. The act

805-705: A handful of other children of Ancient Macedonian aristocracy , under the tutelage of Aristotle . Hephaestion makes his appearance in history at the point when Alexander reaches Troy . There they made sacrifices at the shrines of the two heroes Achilles and Patroclus; Alexander honoring Achilles, and Hephaestion honoring Patroclus. According to Robin Lane Fox , Alexander and Hephaestion were possible lovers. After Hephaestion's death in Oct 324 BC, Alexander mourned him greatly and did not eat for days. Alexander held an elaborate funeral for Hephaestion at Babylon , and sent

920-410: A law. In territories with a Westminster system , most bills that have any possibility of becoming law are introduced into parliament by the government. This will usually happen following the publication of a " white paper ", setting out the issues and the way in which the proposed new law is intended to deal with them. A bill may also be introduced into parliament without formal government backing; this

1035-497: A loving friendship. In 1734, George Frederic Handel 's opera Oreste (based on Giangualberto Barlocci's Roman libretto of 1723), was premiered in London's Covent Garden . The fame of Lucian's works in the 18th century, as well as the generally well-known tradition of Greco-Roman heroic homoeroticism, made it natural for theatre audiences of that period to have recognized an intense, romantic, if not positively homoerotic quality, to

1150-451: A matter of the sexes of the participants. According to Dover, pederasty was not considered to be a homosexual act, given that the 'man' would be taking on a dominant role, and his disciple would be taking on a passive one. When intercourse occurred between two people of the same gender, it still was not entirely regarded as a homosexual union, given that one partner would have to take on a passive role, and would therefore no longer be considered

1265-494: A maximum of seven years. An institution that conducts this type of marriage can have its licence cancelled. A person who promotes or abets homosexuality, as broadly defined by the bill, can be fined and imprisoned for five to seven years except that if the person were a corporate body, business, association, or non-governmental organization, its registration can be cancelled and the "director, proprietor or promoter" can get seven years imprisonment. A person charged with an offence under

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1380-482: A note to the shrine of Ammon, which had previously acknowledged Alexander as a god , asking them to grant Hephaestion divine honours. The priests declined, but did offer him the status of divine hero . Alexander died soon after receiving this letter; Mary Renault suggests that his grief over Hephaestion's death had led him to be careless with his health. Alexander was overwhelmed by his grief for Hephaestion, so much that Arrian records that Alexander "flung himself on

1495-677: A pastor in America, to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations". Maddow highlighted his actions supporting Uganda's break with the Anglican Church for being "pro-gay" and asserted that Warren had contradicted his condemnation of its anti-homosexuality bill. Lisa Miller in Newsweek likewise cast aspersions on Warren's actions. On 22 December 2009, several hundred people gathered in Kampala to show their support for

1610-596: A pederastic relationship could continue until the widespread growth of the boy's body hair, when he is considered a man. Therefore, though relationships such as this were more temporary, it had longer, lasting effects on those involved. In ancient Spartan weddings, the bride had her hair cropped short and was dressed as a man. It was suggested by George Devereux that this was to make the husband's transition from homosexual to heterosexual relationships easier. This marks these pederasty relationships as temporary, developmental ones, not one of sexual and intimate connection like with

1725-413: A person under the age of 18; committed by a person who is HIV -positive; by a parent or guardian of the person with whom the act is committed; by a person in authority over the person with whom the act is committed; the victim of which is a person with a disability; by a serial offender; or by a person who administers any drug, matter, or thing with the intent to stupefy or overpower another person to enable

1840-406: A person who "aids, abets, counsels, or procures another to engage in an act of homosexuality" and provides a possible penalty of seven years imprisonment. A person who "purports to contract a marriage with another person of the same sex" commits the "offence of homosexuality" and can be imprisoned for life. A person that conducts a marriage ceremony between persons of the same sex can be imprisoned for

1955-607: A plan and through this, Uganda is going to be blessed." According to a 4 August 2014 news media report, Uganda's top Anglican leader, Archbishop Stanley Ntagali , called the decision of the Constitutional Court a disappointment for the Church of Uganda, religious leaders, and many Ugandans. He said, "The 'court of public opinion' has clearly indicated its support for the Act, and we urge Parliament to consider voting again on

2070-482: A poet from the island of Lesbos , wrote many love poems addressed to women and girls. The love in these poems is sometimes requited, and sometimes not. Sappho is thought to have written close to 12,000 lines of poetry. Of these, only about 600 lines have survived. As a result of her fame in antiquity, she and her land have become emblematic of love between women. Pedagogic erotic relationships are also documented for Sparta , together with athletic nudity for women. During

2185-518: A position on the bill. Evangelical organisation Andrew Wommack Ministries declared support for the bill. Uganda's Catholic Archbishop of Kampala Cyprian Kizito Lwanga stated in December 2009 that the bill was unnecessary and "at odds with the core values" of Christianity, expressing particular concerns at the death penalty provisions. Lwanga argued that instead homosexuals should be encouraged to seek rehabilitation. Pope Benedict XVI received

2300-486: A possible penalty of seven years imprisonment. A person who "purports to contract a marriage with another person of the same sex" would commit the "offence of homosexuality" and could be imprisoned for life. A person who promotes or abets homosexuality, as broadly defined by the bill, could be fined and imprisoned for five to seven years except that if the person were a corporate body, business, association, or non-governmental organization, its registration would be cancelled and

2415-422: A range of ancient texts suggests, however, that some forms of sexual preference were, in fact, considered a distinguishing characteristic of individuals. Many texts even see such preferences as inborn qualities and as "essential aspects of human identity..." ibid. Hubbard utilizes both schools of thought when these seem pertinent to the ancient texts, pp. 2–20. During Plato's time there were people who were of

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2530-463: A reporter in Africa, "Africans see homosexuality as being both un-African and un-Christian". Thirty-eight of 53 African nations criminalise homosexuality in some way. A 2013 poll found that the overwhelming majority of Ugandans disapproved of homosexuality. In sub-Saharan Africa, only the governments of South Africa and Namibia support gay rights. But South Africa's support of LGBT rights did not prevent

2645-699: A rhetorical tool used to further the interests of political leaders in the form of gaining popularity and/or distracting from corrupt behaviour. Parliament passed similar bills in 2021 and 2023: the Sexual Offenses Bill, 2019 , passed in May 2021 and vetoed by President Yoweri Museveni and the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, 2023 . Some gay rights advocates have claimed that around 500,000 people in Uganda or 1.4 percent of its population are gay. The Ugandan government, however, has characterized

2760-413: A rite of passage. This older man would educate the youth in the ways of Greek life and the responsibilities of adulthood. The rite of passage undergone by Greek youths in the tribal prehistory of Greece evolved into the commonly known form of Greek pederasty after the rise of the city-state, or polis . Greek boys no longer left the confines of the community, but rather paired up with older men within

2875-450: A role model for his eromenos , whose reward for him lay in his beauty, youth, and promise. Such a concept is backed up by archeological evidence experts have found throughout the years, such as a bronze plaque of an older man carrying a bow and arrow while grabbing a younger man by the arms- who is carrying a goat. Furthermore, the boy's genitals are exposed in the plaque, thus experts interpret this, and more evidence comparative to this, as

2990-489: A same-sex act to be committed. A person charged with "aggravated homosexuality" would be forced to undergo an HIV test. A person who attempted to commit "the offence of homosexuality" could receive imprisonment for seven years. A person who attempted to commit "aggravated homosexuality" could receive life imprisonment. Among other things, the bill also would have criminalized a person who "aids, abets, counsels, or procures another to engage in an act of homosexuality" and provides

3105-443: A social and educational institution. It was an important element in civil life, the military, philosophy and the arts. There is some debate among scholars about whether pederasty was widespread in all social classes, or largely limited to the aristocracy. The Sacred Band of Thebes , a separate military unit made up of pairs of male lovers, is usually considered the prime example of how the ancient Greeks used love between soldiers in

3220-578: A threat to the African family as especially egregious, putting people's lives in danger: "When you speak like that, Africans will fight to the death." Pambazuka News points out that "it costs a considerable amount of money, time and processes to table a private-member's bill" and asks "how the MP from Kabale District [Bahati] is financing this process? It has also been common practice for the mushrooming pastors and churches to use homophobic attacks on opponents as

3335-662: A troop to boost their fighting spirit. The Thebans attributed to the Sacred Band the power of Thebes for the generation before its fall to Philip II of Macedon , who, when he surveyed the dead after the Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) and saw the bodies of the Sacred Band strewn on the battlefield, delivered this harsh criticism of the Spartan views of the band: Perish miserably they who think that these men did or suffered aught disgraceful. Pammenes' opinion, according to Plutarch,

3450-471: A way to discredit each other and sway faithfuls." US television host Rachel Maddow ran a continuing segment on the bill, entitled "Uganda Be Kidding Me" on The Rachel Maddow Show . Maddow asserted that Cohen had "blood on [his] hands" for providing the false inspiration for the bill. She has also questioned the truth in Warren's statements when he said in an interview "... it is not my political calling, as

3565-424: A woman. During these times, homosexuality was seen as normal and necessary due to the power dynamic at play between an older, dominant man, and a younger, submissive one. Yet, when two men of similar age shared a similar relationship, it was deemed taboo and, in fact, perverse. The ancient Greeks, in the context of the pederastic city-states, were the first to describe, study, systematize, and establish pederasty as

Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 - Misplaced Pages Continue

3680-455: Is defined to include various same-sex sexual acts. "Aggravated homosexuality" is defined to include a same-sex sexual act: with a person under the age of 18; committed by a person who is HIV -positive; by a parent or guardian of the person with whom the act is committed; by a person in authority over the person with whom the act is committed; with a disabled person; by a serial offender; or by a person who administers any drug, matter, or thing with

3795-426: Is far too harsh.... Society should actively discourage all sex outside of marriage and that includes homosexuality.... The family is under threat.... [Gay people] should not be parading around the streets." Richard A. Cohen , a US psychiatrist associated with the ex-gay movement , condemned the bill and stated that its punitive measures are "incomprehensible". Don Schmierer, a US evangelical preacher associated with

3910-627: Is genetically pre-determined or a choice. He indicated he needed to know "whether, indeed, there are people who are born homosexual", in which case it would be wrong to punish them. He said that he would not sign the bill until that matter had been clarified. Museveni publicly signed the bill into law on 24 February and afterwards said that, based on a scientific study he commissioned, people are not born homosexual. The act provides specific definitions of "the offence of homosexuality" and "aggravated homosexuality". A person who commits either offence can receive life imprisonment. "The offence of homosexuality"

4025-407: Is important to note that not all pederastic relationships were sexual—many were simply forms of friendship and guidance . The age limit for pederasty in ancient Greece seems to encompass, at the minimum end, boys of twelve years of age. To love a boy below the age of twelve was considered inappropriate, but no evidence exists of any legal penalties attached to this sort of practice. Traditionally,

4140-452: Is known as a private member's bill . In territories with a multicameral parliament, most bills may be first introduced in any chamber. However, certain types of legislation are required, either by constitutional convention or by law, to be introduced into a specific chamber. For example, bills imposing a tax , or involving public expenditure , are introduced into the House of Commons in

4255-448: Is passed by Parliament it becomes an act and part of statute law. There are two types of bill and act, public and private . Public acts apply to the whole of the UK or a number of its constituent countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Private acts are local and personal in their effect, giving special powers to bodies such as local authorities or making exceptions to

4370-532: Is reductionist and have provided evidence to the contrary. The legislator Philolaus of Corinth , lover of the stadion race winner Diocles of Corinth at the Ancient Olympic Games of 728 BC, crafted laws for the Thebans in the 8th century BC that gave special support to male unions, contributing to the development of Theban pederasty in which, unlike other places in ancient Greece, it favored

4485-474: Is stronger and more intimate than any of their relationships with other people. The relationship between them has been interpreted by some authors from Roman times onwards as romantic or homoerotic. The dialogue Erotes ("Affairs of the Heart"), attributed to Lucian , compares the merits and advantages of heteroeroticism and homoeroticism, and Orestes and Pylades are presented as the principal representatives of

4600-593: The Iliad , were thought to boost morale as well as bravery due to the desire to impress and protect their lover. Such relationships were documented by many Greek historians and in philosophical discourses, as Plutarch demonstrates: It is not only the most warlike peoples, the Boeotians , Spartans , and Cretans , who are the most susceptible to this kind of love but also the greatest heroes of old: Meleager , Achilles , Aristomenes , Cimon , and Epaminondas . During

4715-795: The American Psychological Association , the Canadian Psychological Association , and the American Sociological Association . Cohen later said these statements would be removed from future editions of the book. In April 2009, the Ugandan Parliament passed a resolution allowing MP David Bahati to submit a private member's bill in October to strengthen laws against homosexuality. Bahati proposed

Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2014 - Misplaced Pages Continue

4830-728: The Lelantine War between the Eretrians and the Chalcidians , before a decisive battle the Chalcidians called for the aid of a warrior named Cleomachus (glorious warrior). He answered their request, bringing his lover to watch. Leading the charge against the Eretrians he brought the Chalcidians to victory at the cost of his own life. The Chalcidians erected a tomb for him in the marketplace in gratitude. According to

4945-407: The Parliament of England did not originally have titles, and could only be formally cited by reference to the parliamentary session in which they were passed, with each individual act being identified by year and chapter number. Descriptive titles began to be added to the enrolled acts by the official clerks, as a reference aid; over time, titles came to be included within the text of each bill. Since

5060-646: The Parliament of India , every bill passes through following stages before it becomes an Act of Parliament of India : In the Irish Parliament, the Oireachtas , bills pass through the following stages. Bills may be initiated in either the Dáil or the Seanad, and must pass both houses. In New Zealand, the bill passes through the following stages: A draft piece of legislation is called a bill ; when this

5175-728: The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni on 24 February 2014. On 1 August 2014, however, the Constitutional Court of Uganda ruled the act invalid on procedural grounds. The act would have broadened the criminalisation of same-sex relations in Uganda domestically. It also includes provisions about persons outside of Uganda who are charged with violating the act, asserting that they may be extradited to Uganda for punishment there. The act also includes penalties for individuals, companies, and non-governmental organisations that aid or abet same-sex sexual acts, including conducting

5290-406: The gender of the participants, but rather by the role that each participant played in the sex act, that of active penetrator or passive penetrated. Within the traditions of pederasty, active/passive polarization corresponded with dominant and submissive social roles: the active (penetrative) role was associated with masculinity , higher social status , and adulthood , while the passive role

5405-507: The head of state . In some countries, such as in France, Belgium, Luxembourg , Spain and Portugal, the term for a bill differs depending on whether it is initiated by the government (when it is known as a "draft"), or by the parliament (a "proposition", i.e., a private member's bill). In Australia, the bill passes through the following stages: In Canada, the bill passes through the following stages: The committee considers each clause of

5520-417: The "director, proprietor or promoter" could get seven years imprisonment. A "person in authority" who becomes aware of an offense under the bill could be fined and imprisoned for up to three years unless the person reported the offense within 24 hours. The bill, by its own terms, would apply to any offense committed under the bill by a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Uganda, regardless of whether

5635-819: The 43rd act passed in 1980 would be 1980 chapter 43. The full reference includes the (short) title and would be the Magistrate's Court Act 1980 (c. 43). Until the 1980s, acts of the Australian state of Victoria were numbered in a continuous sequence from 1857; thus the Age of Majority Act 1977 was No. 9075 of 1977. Homosexuality in ancient Greece In classical antiquity , writers such as Herodotus , Plato , Xenophon , Athenaeus and many others explored aspects of homosexuality in Greek society . The most widespread and socially significant form of same-sex sexual relations in ancient Greece amongst elite circles

5750-462: The 500,000 people claim as an exaggeration designed to increase the popularity of homosexuality, and the BBC in 2009 asserted the impossibility of determining the actual number of gay people living in Uganda. Existing laws in Uganda criminalise homosexual behavior with prison sentences, some of which can be as long as 14 years. These laws were introduced during the colonial era in order to eliminate what

5865-524: The Anglican Church of Canada's intervention, Bishop Joseph Abura of the Karamoja Diocese wrote an editorial saying, "Ugandan Parliament, the watch dog of our laws, please go ahead and put the anti-Gay laws in place. It is then that we become truly accountable to our young and to this country, not to Canada or England. We are in charge!" Although the Anglican Church in Uganda opposes the death penalty, its archbishop, Henry Luke Orombi , did not take

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5980-514: The Bill with the proper quorum in place. ... I appeal to all God-fearing people and all Ugandans to remain committed to the support against homosexuality." Certain US evangelists who are active in Africa have been accused of being responsible for inspiring the bill by inciting hatred by comparing homosexuality to paedophilia and influencing public policy with donations from US religious organisations. Among

6095-432: The Church of Uganda and evangelical pastors united to condemn homosexuality and call for the passage of the bill, saying passing the bill would save the nation's children from being recruited into the vice. Among those in attendance was United Kingdom (UK)-based evangelical preacher Paul Shinners who commended Uganda for the bill, saying it was a clear stand for God. He said, "There is no other nation world over that has such

6210-559: The Homosexuals' Agenda" took place in Kampala , the capital of Uganda. The workshop featured three US evangelical Christians: Scott Lively , an author who has written several books opposing homosexuality; Caleb Lee Brundidge , a self-professed former gay man who conducts sessions to heal homosexuality; and Don Schmierer , a board member of Exodus International , an organisation devoted to promoting "freedom from homosexuality through

6325-563: The House of Commons, or S- if they originate in the Senate. For example, Bill C-250 was a private member's bill introduced in the House. Bills C-1 and S-1 are pro forma bills, and are introduced at the beginning of each session in order to assert the right of each Chamber to manage its own affairs. They are introduced and read a first time, and then are dropped from the Order Paper . In

6440-605: The Roman era. Some scholars believe that same-sex relationships, especially pederasty, were common only among the aristocracy, and that such relationships were not widely practised by the common people ( demos ). One such scholar is Bruce Thornton , who argues that insults directed at pederastic males in the comedies of Aristophanes show the common people's dislike for the practice. Other scholars, such as Victoria Wohl  [ de ] , emphasize that in Athens , same-sex desire

6555-676: The Ugandan ambassador in Rome in December 2009 and commended the climate of freedom and respect in the country towards the Catholic Church. During this meeting, there was no mention of the bill. Three days earlier, however, the Vatican legal attaché to the United Nations stated that "Pope Benedict is opposed to 'unjust discrimination' against gay men and lesbians". On 31 December 2012, a number of events took place across Uganda where

6670-412: The Ugandan government would ask Bahati to withdraw it and President Museveni asserted that it was too harsh. On 12 January 2010, President Museveni told the news media that there is need to exercise "extreme caution" and that his cabinet members will speak to Bahati to reach a compromise to both satisfy Bahati's concerns and properly weigh the calls against the bill that Museveni has received from throughout

6785-538: The United Kingdom, Canada's House of Commons , Lok Sabha of India and Ireland's Dáil as a matter of law. Conversely, bills proposed by the Law Commission and consolidation bills traditionally start in the House of Lords . Once introduced, a bill must go through a number of stages before it can become law. In theory, this allows the bill's provisions to be debated in detail, and for amendments to

6900-419: The act may be extradited to Uganda, as provided under existing extradition law. Amnesty International reported in October 2009 that arrests of people suspected of having homosexual relations were arbitrary and that authorities tortured and abused detainees. Scott Lively , who presides the anti-LGBT group Abiding Truth Ministries , disagreed with the bill, saying "I agree with the general goal but this law

7015-518: The adult man to court the boy who struck his fancy, and it was viewed as socially appropriate for the younger man to withhold for a while before capitulating to his mentor's desires. At first, both erastes and eromenos , were expected to show restraint in the relationship. Soon after, the younger man gives in to his new mentor— erastes —and receives guidance from him. Nevertheless, it is not certain that those in submission will enjoy such "trainings" from his mentor—including sexual favors. However, it

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7130-882: The ancient Greeks described by Thomas Hubbard in the Introduction to Homosexuality in Greece and Rome, A Source Book of Basic Documents , 2007, p. 2: "The field of Gay Studies has, virtually since its inception, been divided between 'essentialists' those who believe in an archetypical pattern of same gender attraction that is universal, transhistorical, and transcultural, and "social constructionists", those who hold that patterns of sexual preference manifest themselves with different significance in different societies and that no essential identity exists between practitioners of same-gender love in, for instance, ancient Greece and post industrial Western society. Some social constructionists have even gone so far as to deny that sexual preference

7245-612: The beauty standards of ancient Athens. Other ancients such as Xenophon held that Achilles and Patroclus were simply close friends. Aeschylus in the tragedy Myrmidons made Achilles the erastes since he had avenged his lover's death even though the gods told him it would cost his own life. However, the character of Phaedrus in Plato 's Symposium asserts that Homer emphasized the beauty of Achilles, which would qualify him, not Patroclus, as eromenos . Theseus and Pirithous are another famous pair of close adult male best friends of

7360-434: The bill and rejected condemnation of it, with the country's authorities stating President Museveni wanted "to demonstrate Uganda's independence in the face of Western pressure and provocation". Several sources have noted that the act has exacerbated both the endemic homophobia in Uganda and the associated discussions about it. Others more specifically claim that such legislative actions are the result of politicized homophobia,

7475-409: The bill had been passed without the required quorum. On 14 February 2014, President Museveni announced that he would sign the bill into law. According to the government, his decision was based on a report by "medical experts" who said "homosexuality is not genetic but a social behavior." A few days later, he retracted this announcement and asked the US for scientific advice about whether homosexuality

7590-412: The bill on 14 October 2009. The bill provided specific definitions of "the offence of homosexuality", for which an offender could receive life imprisonment , and "aggravated homosexuality", for which an offender could receive the death penalty . "The offence of homosexuality" was defined to include various same-sex sexual acts. "Aggravated homosexuality" was defined to include a same-sex sexual act: with

7705-510: The bill to drop the death penalty and substitute life imprisonment for gay people with multiple offences. Initially, however, Buturo stated that the government was determined to pass the bill "even if meant withdrawing from international treaties and conventions such as the UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and forgoing donor funding", according to an interview in The Guardian . Bahati,

7820-542: The bill would be sent to committee. In late 2011, Bloomberg News President Museveni probably would have vetoed the bill because of international pressure. Speaker Kadaga vowed to pass the bill in 2012. Bahati re-introduced the bill in February 2012. In November 2012, the Speaker agreed to pass a new law against homosexuality by the end of 2012 as a "Christmas gift" to its advocates. The bill did not pass in 2012. The bill

7935-422: The bill's sponsor, subsequently and repeatedly denied those reports. On 23 December, Reuters reported that Buturo again said that the death penalty would be dropped from the bill. He claimed that protests from western nations did not affect this decision. On 8 January 2010, Bahati again asserted that he would not postpone or shelve the bill, even after Minister of State for Investment Aston Kajara stated that

8050-512: The bill, and may make amendments to it. Significant amendments may be made at the committee stage. In some cases, whole groups of clauses are inserted or removed. However, if the Government holds a majority, almost all the amendments which are agreed to in committee will have been tabled by the Government to correct deficiencies in the bill or to enact changes to policy made since the bill was introduced (or, in some cases, to import material which

8165-458: The bill, calling it "un-Christian". Martin Ssempa , a Ugandan pastor and former affiliate of Warren, endorsed the bill. In February 2010, to counter opposition to the bill, Ssempa showed gay pornography to 300 members of his church, shocking them with images of explicit sexual acts and implying that all gay people engage in them, but straight people do not. Several Christian organizations opposed

8280-600: The bill, including the Anglican Church of Canada , Integrity Uganda , Exodus International , Accepting Evangelicals , Changing Attitude , Courage , Ekklesia , Fulcrum , Inclusive Church , and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement . Exodus International sent a letter on 16 November 2009 to President Museveni stating, "The Christian church ... must be permitted to extend the love and compassion of Christ to all. We believe that this legislation would make this mission

8395-417: The bill, protesting against homosexuals. Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported, "The protesters, led by born-again clerics, cultural leaders, and university undergraduates, marched to the parliament where they presented a petition." Act of Parliament A draft act of parliament is known as a bill . In other words, a bill is a proposed law that needs to be discussed in the parliament before it can become

8510-459: The bill. "This subject is very sensitive and some of us fear that if it is discussed in public view, we will be persecuted for holding particular views," Amoding said. On 20 December 2013, Parliament passed the bill with the offences of "homosexuality" and "aggravated homosexuality" being punishable with life imprisonment. In a letter dated 28 December 2013 to the speaker and members of the Ugandan parliament, President Museveni expressed dismay that

8625-407: The body of his friend and lay there nearly all day long in tears, and refused to be parted from him until he was dragged away by force by his Companions". Some have suggested that they shared a homosexual relationship together, however the conservative author and politician Adonis Georgiades has challenged that claim, stating instead that Hephaestion was "his closest and dearest friend". Sappho ,

8740-742: The clause stand part of the bill are made. In the Report stage, the debate is on the motions for specific amendments. Once a bill has passed both Houses in an identical form, it is presented to the Governor General , who gives it royal assent . Although the Governor General can refuse to assent a bill, this power has never been exercised. Bills being reviewed by Parliament are assigned numbers: 2 to 200 for government bills, 201 to 1000 for private member's bills , and 1001 up for private bills . They are preceded by C- if they originate in

8855-466: The colonial authorities deemed " unnatural sex ". In some areas, male homosexuality was age-stratified, similar to ancient Greece where warriors purchased boys as brides, common when women were not available, or manifested as fleeting encounters as in prostitution. Human rights groups have demanded reform of those laws and decriminalisation of homosexuality and asserted that the laws reinforce prejudice and promote violence against LGBT people. According to

8970-464: The confines of the city. These men, like their earlier counterparts, played an educational and instructive role in the lives of their young companions; likewise, just as in earlier times, they shared a sexual relationship with their boys. Penetrative sex, however, was seen as demeaning for the passive partner, and outside the socially accepted norm. In ancient Greece, sex was generally understood in terms of penetration, pleasure, and dominance, rather than

9085-578: The continuity of the union of male couples even after the younger man reached adulthood, the most famous example being the Sacred Band of Thebes , composed of elite soldiers in pairs of male lovers in the 4th century BC, as was also the case with him and Diocles, who lived together in Thebes until the end of their lives. The romance between Pausanias and Agathon in Athens , made famous by their appearance in Plato 's Symposium , also continued from

9200-601: The critics were The Times , Jeffrey Gettleman in The New York Times , Time , The Guardian , a pan-African internet news journal for social justice named Pambazuka News , and an international organisation with a similar objective named Inter Press Service . Kaoma said that certain US evangelicals, such as Lively and pastor Warren, have a history of missionary work in Uganda and have become influential in shaping public policy in Uganda and other countries. Kaoma characterized their attempts to portray homosexuals as

9315-513: The ex-gay movement Exodus International , expressed shock at the bill, telling The New York Times that, although he outlined how homosexuals could change to heterosexual in the March 2009 conference, his involvement was limited to giving seminars to Africans about better parenting skills: "[The bill is] horrible, absolutely horrible... Some of the nicest people I have ever met are gay people." Southern Baptist pastor Rick Warren publicly denounced

9430-423: The historical record of love and sexual relations between women is sparse. After a long hiatus marked by censorship of homosexual themes, modern historians picked up the threads, starting with Erich Bethe in 1907 and continuing with K. J. Dover and many others. These scholars have shown that same-sex relations were openly practised, largely with official sanction, in many areas of life from the 7th century BC until

9545-417: The intent to stupefy or overpower another person to enable a same-sex act to be committed. A person charged with "aggravated homosexuality" is forced to undergo an HIV test. A person who attempts to commit "the offence of homosexuality" can receive imprisonment for seven years. A person who attempts to commit "aggravated homosexuality" can receive life imprisonment. Among other things, the act also criminalises

9660-690: The law in particular geographic areas. In the United Kingdom Parliament, each bill passes through the following stages: In the Scottish Parliament, bills pass through the following stages: There are special procedures for emergency bills, member's bills (similar to private member's bills in the UK Parliament), committee bills, and private bills. In Singapore, the bill passes through these certain stages before becoming into an Act of Parliament. Acts passed by

9775-594: The law, accusing the Ugandan government of encouraging violence against LGBT people with the law. The United States imposed economic sanctions against Uganda in June 2014 in response to the law, the World Bank indefinitely postponed a $ 90 million aid loan to Uganda and the governments of Denmark , the Netherlands , Sweden and Norway halted aid to Uganda in opposition to the law; the Ugandan government defended

9890-468: The list was a yellow strip with the words "hang them". Julian Pepe , a program coordinator for Sexual Minorities Uganda , said that people named in the story were living in fear and that attacks have begun, prompting many to abandon their jobs and others to relocate. The paper's editor justified the list to expose gays and lesbians so authorities could arrest them, while Buturo dismissed complaints from gay people and sympathisers by stating that protests about

10005-499: The mid-nineteenth century, it has also become common practice for acts to have a short title , as a convenient alternative to the sometimes lengthy main titles. The Short Titles Act 1892 , and its replacement the Short Titles Act 1896 , gave short titles to many acts which previously lacked them. The numerical citation of acts has also changed over time. The original method was based on the regnal year (or years) in which

10120-536: The offense was committed in Uganda, and could be extradited to Uganda. When the bill was introduced, an independent MP stated that he thought it had about a 99 percent chance of passing. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni openly expressed his support for the bill, stating "We used to say Mr and Mrs, but now it is Mr and Mr. What is that now?" After facing intense international reaction and promises from Western nations to cut financial aid to Uganda, Uganda's Minister Buturo said on 9 December 2009 that Uganda will revise

10235-402: The opinion of the classicist Kenneth Dover who published Greek Homosexuality in 1978, given the importance in Greek society of cultivating the masculinity of the adult male and the perceived feminizing effect of being the passive partner, relations between adult men of comparable social status were considered highly problematic, and usually associated with social stigma. This stigma, however,

10350-499: The opinion that homosexual sex was shameful in any circumstances. Indeed, Plato himself eventually came to hold this view. At one time he had written that same-sex lovers were far more blessed than ordinary mortals. He even gave them a headstart in the great race to get back to heaven, their mutual love refeathering their mottled wings. Later he seemed to contradict himself. In his ideal city, he says in his last, posthumously published work known as The Laws homosexual sex will be treated

10465-422: The original bill to also be introduced, debated, and agreed to. In bicameral parliaments, a bill that has been approved by the chamber into which it was introduced then sends the bill to the other chamber. Broadly speaking, each chamber must separately agree to the same version of the bill. Finally, the approved bill receives assent; in most territories this is merely a formality and is often a function exercised by

10580-655: The outing is part of a campaign to mobilise support and sympathy from outside the country. The high court of Uganda ordered Rolling Stone to stop publishing images of gay and lesbian people after David Kato and several others sued the paper. Langa specifically cited the unlicensed conversion therapist Richard A. Cohen , who stated in Coming Out Straight, a book that was given to Langa and other prominent Ugandans, that homosexuals were more likely to molest children. These statements were based on faulty studies performed by Paul Cameron , who has been expelled from

10695-403: The pederastic phase into adulthood as a stable and long-lasting relationship. The first recorded appearance of a deep emotional bond between adult men in ancient Greek culture was in the Iliad (800 BC). Homer does not depict the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus as sexual. The ancient Athenians emphasised the supposed age difference between the two by portraying Patroclus with

10810-518: The power of Jesus Christ" and which was funded by restaurant chain Chick-Fil-A . The theme of the conference, according to The New York Times , was the " gay agenda ": "how to make gay people straight, how gay men often sodomized teenage boys and how 'the gay movement is an evil institution' whose goal is 'to defeat the marriage-based society and replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity' ". Kapya Kaoma , an Anglican priest from Zambia,

10925-413: The practice of pederasty. The roots of Greek pederasty lie in the tribal past of Greece, before the rise of the city-state as a unit of political organization. These tribal communities were organized according to age groups. When it came time for a boy to embrace the age group of the adult and to "become a man", he would leave the tribe in the company of an older man for a period of time that constituted

11040-483: The predictions, are true." In April 2009, a local Ugandan newspaper printed the names of suspected homosexuals, another printed tips on how to identify gays for the general public, and, in October 2010, another named Rolling Stone (unaffiliated with the American Rolling Stone ) published a story featuring a list of the nation's 100 "top" gays and lesbians with their photos and addresses. Next to

11155-545: The rape and murder of LGBT rights activist Eudy Simelane in 2008. Human rights groups have criticized the police for being inactive and apathetic. Like the conditions in many other African nations, gays in Uganda face an atmosphere of physical abuse, vandalism of their property, blackmail, death threats, and " corrective rape ". From 5 to 8 March 2009, a workshop organised by the Family Life Network, led by Ugandan Stephen Langa , and entitled "Seminar on Exposing

11270-541: The relationship between Orestes and Pylades. Alexander the Great had a close emotional attachment to his cavalry commander ( hipparchus ) and childhood friend, Hephaestion . He was "by far the dearest of all the king's friends; he had been brought up with Alexander and shared all his secrets." This relationship lasted throughout their lives, and was compared, by others as well as themselves, to that of Achilles and Patroclus . Hephaestion studied with Alexander, as did

11385-415: The relevant parliamentary session met. This has been replaced in most territories by simple reference to the calendar year, with the first act passed being chapter 1, and so on. In the United Kingdom, legislation has referenced by year and chapter number since 1963 ( Acts of Parliament Numbering and Citation Act 1962 ). Each act is numbered consecutively based on the date it received royal assent, for example

11500-877: The same age whose strong bond has homoerotic connotations according to some ancient authors. Pirithous had heard stories of Theseus's courage and strength in battle but wanted proof so he rustled Theseus's herd of cattle and drove it from Marathon and Theseus set out in pursuit. Pirithous took up his arms and the pair met to do battle but were so impressed with each other's gracefulness, beauty and courage they took an oath of friendship. According to Ovid, Phaedra , Theseus' wife, felt left out by her husband's love for Pirithous and she used this as an excuse to try to convince her stepson, Hippolytus , to accept being her lover, as Theseus also neglected his son because he preferred to spend long periods with his companion. Orestes and Pylades , similarly to Achilles and Patroclus, grew up together from childhood to adulthood. Their relationship

11615-427: The same way as incest. It is something contrary to nature, he insists, calling it "utterly unholy, odious-to-the-gods and ugliest of ugly things". The subject has caused controversy in modern Greece. In 2002, a conference on Alexander the Great was stormed as a paper about his homosexuality was about to be presented. When the film Alexander , which depicted Alexander as romantically involved with both men and women,

11730-470: The thousands of Ugandans in attendance announced during the conference, "[The parliament] feels it is necessary to draft a new law that deals comprehensively with the issue of homosexuality and ... takes into account the international gay agenda.... Right now there is a proposal that a new law be drafted." Also during March 2009, Lively met with several Ugandan MPs and Minister of Ethics and Integrity James Nsaba Buturo . Lively then wrote in his blog that Langa

11845-467: The world. The bill was held for further discussion for the remainder of 2010. Parliament adjourned in May 2011 without voting on the bill. Bahati stated, however, that he intended to re-introduce the bill in the next parliament. In August 2011, the Ugandan cabinet decided unanimously that current laws making homosexuality illegal were sufficient. Parliament voted in October 2011 to reopen the debate, with Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga stating that

11960-436: The year 610 B.C., a group of teenage girls was documented singing classic hymns about their Gods and Goddesses, as well as ties to them, while involved in ploughing rituals in a mountain range. Nevertheless, such hymns would further in content as the girls flirt with and tease one another with hints of sexual energy. Plato's Symposium mentions women who "do not care for men, but have female attachments". In general, however,

12075-403: Was "overjoyed with the results of our efforts and predicted confidently that the coming weeks would see significant improvement in the moral climate of the nation, and a massive increase in pro-family activism in every social sphere. He said that a respected observer of society in Kampala had told him that our campaign was like a nuclear bomb against the 'gay' agenda in Uganda. I pray that this, and

12190-520: Was a significant category for the ancients or that any kind of subculture based on sexual object-choice existed in the ancient world", p. 2 (he cites Halperin and Foucault in the social constructionist camp and Boswell and Thorp in the essentialist; cf. E. Stein for a collection of essays, Forms of Desire : Sexual Orientation and the Social Constructionist Controversy , 1992). Hubbard states that "Close examination of

12305-413: Was associated with femininity , lower social status , and youth . The most common form of same-sex relationships between elite males in Greece was paiderastia (pederasty). It was a relationship between an older male and an adolescent youth. A boy was considered a "boy" until he was able to grow a full beard. In Athens the older man was called erastes . He was to educate, protect, love, and provide

12420-531: Was between adult men and pubescent or adolescent boys, known as pederasty (marriages in Ancient Greece between men and women were also age structured, with men in their thirties commonly taking wives in their early teens). Certain city-states allowed it while others were ambiguous or prohibited it. Though sexual relationships between adult men did exist, it is possible at least one member of each of these relationships flouted social conventions by assuming

12535-401: Was in attendance and reported on the conference. Lively asserted in his workshops that legalizing homosexuality would be akin to accepting child molestation and bestiality. He also claimed that gays threaten society by causing higher divorce rates, child abuse, and HIV transmission. He said that US homosexuals are out to recruit young people into homosexual lifestyles. According to Kaoma, one of

12650-565: Was introduced as the Anti Homosexuality Bill, 2009 by Member of Parliament (MP) David Bahati ( National Resistance Movement ) on 14 October 2009. A special motion to introduce the bill was passed a month after a two-day conference was held in which three Christians from the United States asserted that homosexuality is a direct threat to the cohesion of African families. The international community, however, assailed

12765-453: Was listed as number eight under "Business to Follow" for 2013. At that stage, no changes to the bill had been presented. It had been reported that members of the Ugandan Parliament were looking to hold debate behind closed doors. National Youth MP Monica Amoding told The Observer that some MPs on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee proposed the move because of the sensitive nature of

12880-504: Was not ready when the bill was presented). The debate on each stage is actually debate on a specific motion. For the first reading, there is no debate. For the second reading, the motion is "That this bill be now read a second time and be referred to [name of committee]" and for third reading "That this bill be now read a third time and pass." In the Committee stage, each clause is called and motions for amendments to these clauses, or that

12995-417: Was part of the "sexual ideology of the democracy", shared by the elite and the demos , as exemplified by the tyrant-slayers, Harmodius and Aristogeiton . Even those who argue that pederasty was limited to the upper classes generally concede that it was "part of the social structure of the polis ". Considerable controversy has engaged the scholarly world concerning the nature of same-sex relationships among

13110-570: Was reserved for only the passive partner in the relationship. According to Dover and his supporters, Greek males who engaged in passive anal sex after reaching the age of manhood—at which point they were expected to take the reverse role in pederastic relationships and become the active and dominant member—thereby were feminized or "made a woman" of themselves. Dover refers to insults used in the plays of Aristophanes as evidence 'passive' men were ridiculed. More recent work published by James Davidson and Hubbard have challenged this model, arguing that it

13225-497: Was that Homer's Nestor was not well skilled in ordering an army when he advised the Greeks to rank tribe and tribe...he should have joined lovers and their beloved. For men of the same tribe little value one another when dangers press; but a band cemented by friendship grounded upon love is never to be broken. These bonds, reflected in episodes from Greek mythology , such as the heroic relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in

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