Senate Passes Resolution Against Uganda Antigay Bill

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution late Tuesday night that calls on parliament members in Uganda to reject the bill that would impose punishments including death on gay people in the African country.

According to HRC Back Story, "The Senate Resolution, introduced by Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, expresses the United States government's 'unequivocal' opposition to the proposed Ugandan bill. Stressing the 'universality of human rights' and the bill's potential to undermine U.S. efforts to combat HIV/AIDS globally, the resolution calls upon the Secretary of State to more closely monitor human rights abuses that are motivated by sexual orientation and to encourage the repeal or reform of similar laws around the world."

A similar resolution is pending in the House of Representatives, introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), chairman of the foreign affairs committee, and more than three dozen other members of Congress.