UGANDA ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL 2009

The United Reformed Church expresses concern at proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

The United Reformed Church (URC) in the UK stands for justice and equality and is therefore appalled at the draconian measures proposed by the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill.^[1]

The URC passed an anti-homophobia resolution at the 1999 General Assembly stating: “Assembly condemns violence against homosexual people and urges all members of the United Reformed Church to be vocal in their opposition of homophobia.” Homophobia was defined as “intense hatred or fear of homosexuals or homosexuality.”

Simon Loveitt, the URC’s spokesperson on public issues says: “This draft legislation represents a clear infringement of human rights and is morally repugnant. It also infringes the African principles of ubuntu^[2] and we add our voice to the many calling for the immediate withdrawal of this discriminatory Bill.”

The bill is due for further discussion in the Ugandan Parliament in January 2010.

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^[1] The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill proposes life imprisonment for any sexual activity between adults of the same sex and the death penalty for anyone whose same sex partner is disabled or under 18.

² Ubuntu is the African concept ‘that my humanity can only be expressed through the humanity of others’

Notes to editors:

The United Reformed Church comprises one hundred thousand people in 1600 congregations. It has brought together English Presbyterians, English, Welsh and Scottish Congregationalists and members of the Churches of Christ. Worldwide, more than 70 million Christians are members of the Reformed family of churches, the largest Protestant tradition. The name ‘Reformed’ is used because the churches began to emerge with reform movements in the sixteenth century. www.urc.org.uk

For more media information contact:

Gill Nichol

Press Officer (Monday – Wednesday)United Reformed Church, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RTTel. 020 7691 9865 Mobile 07976 753950 gill.nichol@urc.org.uk

Telephone 01380 724908
E-mail office@changingattitude.org

This page was last updated on Monday, 18 August 2008