III
Calendar No. 344
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 409
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 4, 2010
Mr. Feingold (for himself, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Collins, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Burris, Mr. Levin, Mr. Franken, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Begich, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Casey, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bayh, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grassley, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
April 13, 2010
Reported by Mr. Kerry, without amendment
RESOLUTION
Calling on members of the Parliament in
Uganda to reject the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill
, and for
other purposes.
Whereas a bill introduced on October 14, 2009, by a member of Parliament in Uganda would expand penalties for homosexuality to include the death penalty and requires citizens to report information about homosexuality to the police or face imprisonment;
Whereas many countries criminalize homosexuality, and in some countries, such as Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan, the penalty for homosexuality includes the death penalty;
Whereas the United States, in seeking to promote the core
American principles of equality and Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of
Happiness,
has long championed the universality of human rights;
Whereas religious leaders in the United States, along with representatives from the Vatican and the Anglican Church, have stated that laws criminalizing homosexuality are unjust; and
Whereas the people and Government of the United States recognize that such laws undermine our commitment to combating HIV/AIDS globally through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) by stigmatizing and criminalizing vulnerable communities: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
calls on members
of the Parliament in Uganda to reject the Anti-Homosexuality
Bill
recently proposed in that country;
urges the governments of all countries to reject and repeal similar criminalization laws; and
encourages the
Secretary of State to closely monitor human rights abuses that occur because of
sexual orientation and to encourage the repeal or reform of laws such as the
proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill
in Uganda that permit such
abuses.
April 13, 2010
Reported without amendment