NEWS British MPs condemn Uganda 'kill gays' Bill EDM urges scrap the Bill, decriminalise same-sex relations 15 January, 2010 Labour MP Harry Cohen LONDON — Labour MP Harry Cohen has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM 575) condemning Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The Bill proposes the death penalty for certain categories of same-sex acts, including for repeat offenders, and life imprisonment for merely touching another person with homosexual intent. "We hope the EDM will send a signal from the British parliament to the Ugandan government that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill constitutes an unacceptable attack on the human rights of Uganda's lesbian, gay and bisexual citizens," said Peter Tatchell of the London-based LGBT human rights group OutRage! "This Bill violates Article 21 of the constitution of Uganda, which guarantees equality and non-discrimination: 21. Equality and freedom from discrimination. (1) All persons are equal before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law. "It also breaches the equality and anti-discrimination provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which Uganda has signed and pledged to uphold. "We are very grateful that Harry Cohen has tabled this EDM. He is a long-standing ally of the LGBT community and has championed gay equality for two decades. Way back in the early 1990s, he was one of the few MPs to ask Parliamentary Questions and write to Government Ministers, pressing for the repeal of homophobic laws. We thank him," added Mr Tatchell. – Issued by OUTRAGE! Related stories Call to Protest at the Ugandan High Commission: 17 November 2009