California Legislative LGBT Caucus Condemns Uganda’s and Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Laws, Highlights Legislature’s Stand Against LGBT Violence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2014
California Legislative LGBT Caucus Condemns Uganda’s and Nigeria’s Anti-Gay Laws,
Highlights Legislature’s Stand Against LGBT Violence
SACRAMENTO – The California Legislative LGBT Caucus released the following statement today in response to recently signed laws that criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Nigeria and Uganda. Most recently, Uganda’s law includes penalties of up to life imprisonment for LGBT people.
As Chair of the Legislative LGBT Caucus, Assemblyman Rich Gordon (Menlo Park) commented:
“We stand in solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters in Uganda and Nigeria. Uganda and Nigeria are on the cusp of inciting a ‘witch hunt’ that will inevitably lead to violence and harassment on the backs of the LGBT community or anyone seeking retribution for past ills. We cannot in good conscience stand idly by as individuals are unfairly targeted as scapegoats. We join our LGBT allies, domestic and abroad, and call on the leadership of Uganda and Nigeria to repeal these antiquated and hatemongering laws.”
Senator Mark Leno (San Francisco), author of the 2010 Senate Resolution 51, commented on the recent passage of the law:
“Uganda’s unconscionable anti-gay law is designed to promote fear and discrimination against the LGBT community in that country, and has already triggered violence against gay people. “We continue to stand in solidarity with advocates across the globe in condemning Uganda’s atrocious actions and those of other countries seeking to criminalize LGBT people based on who they are and love.
“The California LGBT Legislative Caucus has been monitoring the human rights situation in Uganda for several years. In direct response to Uganda’s proposed anti-gay law in 2010, we introduced Senate Resolution 51, which condemned the use of government as an instrument of discrimination, persecution and legislation against the LGBT community. It also called upon the U.S. State Department to increase its efforts to encourage the decriminalization of same-sex relationships in that country and around the world. We join the global community in calling for an end to the spread of fear, misinformation and homophobia in other nations.”
Senate Resolution 51 was introduced on August 23, 2010 by Senators Mark Leno and Christine Kehoe and adopted by the full Senate on August 30. The resolution details are available at http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200920100SR51&search_keywords.
The Legislative LGBT Caucus was originally formed in June 2002. Its role is to present a forum for the California Legislature to discuss issues that affect LGBT Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. The Caucus’ formation made California the first state in the country to recognize an official caucus of openly-LGBT state legislators.
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Media Contacts:
Assemblymember Gordon/LGBT Caucus
William Kim
916-319-2024
William.Kim@asm.ca.gov
Senator Mark Leno
Ali Bay
916-651-4011
Ali.Bay@sen.ca.gov