OTTAWA – New Democrats are calling on Canada to pressure Uganda to immediately withdraw the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” introduced in its Parliament in October. The bill is a violation of human rights, of international agreements and threatens the civil rights guaranteed in the Ugandan constitution.

“As the Commonwealth is meeting this week, this is the perfect time for the Conservative government to stand up for LGBTT people and for human rights and demand that Uganda put an immediate end to this bill,” said New Democrat MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas), critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender Issues.

Among other things, the bill seeks to imprison anyone who fails to report the identities of people they know to be gay or lesbian, and it would impose life imprisonment on anyone who “commits the offence of homosexuality.” “Aggravated homosexuality,” defined in the bill as a situation where one partner is HIV positive, is punishable by the death penalty.

"Canada must speak out clearly and unequivocally against the proposed ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’, now being considered by Parliament in Uganda", said Siksay. “This bill represents an extremely dangerous affront to human rights and AIDS/HIV policy, and must be denounced and stopped."

"Given Canada's strong commitments to human rights for gay and lesbian people, Prime Minister Harper must lead efforts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago to challenge this disgusting legislation,” said Siksay.

Siksay has written to Prime Minister Harper urging strong action by Canada on this issue and requesting that he discuss the issue directly with Ugandan representatives at the meeting.