The Federal Senate has urged the Gillard government to condemn homophobic violence and legislation in Uganda after a motion was passed through the upper house last week.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young introduced the motion to the senate on Thursday and pushed for the federal government ‘to condemn homophobic violence in Uganda and moves to criminalise homosexuality’.
As OUTinPerth understands, the motion is only a directive from the upper house to Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd and is not enforceable.
The motion came in response to the recent murder of leading Ugandan LGBT-rights activist David Kato in January and an increased homophobic violence.
The Senate recognised the Ugandan Government’s anti-homosexuality bill introduced in 2009 that sought to criminalise homosexuality and impose the death penalty on HIV-positive people who have sex.
The upper house also recognised some Uganda media outlets were actively encouraging the killing of homosexuals.
In November last year, a Ugandan newspaper published the names, pictures and residence locations of some LGBT Ugandans underneath the headline, ‘Hang Them’.
Greens spokesperson for sexuality and gender diversity Hanson-Young called on the federal government to speak out against the escalation of homophobic violence and moves to criminalise homosexuality in Uganda.
‘Recently we have seen an escalation of homophobic violence in Uganda, with newspapers targeting prominent gay-rights activists and the murder of David Kato,’ Hanson-Young said.
‘Australia has a responsibility to condemn this kind of abhorrent homophobia. I am glad that the Senate supported my motion and hope that the Government backs this up with diplomatic action.’
Mr Rudd was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Benn Dorrington
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