Obama: Anti-gay law would 'complicate' relationship with Uganda

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http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-obama-antigay-law-uganda-20140216,0,6056882.story



Masked Kenyan supporters of the LGBT community stage a protest against Uganda's anti-gay bill in Nairobi. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been warned by President Obama that signing an anti-gay law would "complicate" the U.S. relationship with the east African country.

Obama: Anti-gay law would 'complicate' relationship with Uganda
By Christi Parsons
February 16, 2014, 12:00 p.m.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — President Obama warned Sunday that a harsh new anti-gay law in Uganda would “complicate our valued relationship” with the east African country, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars a year in U.S. aid.

In a last-ditch effort to derail the measure, national security advisor Susan Rice called Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni over the weekend and urged him not to sign the measure. The law includes a provision of life in prison for “aggravated homosexuality.”

But amid news reports that Museveni was intent on pressing forward, Obama said Sunday that the move would be “a step backward for all Ugandans” and would reflect poorly on the country’s commitment to protecting the human rights of its people.

“As we have conveyed to President Museveni, enacting this legislation will complicate our valued relationship with Uganda,” Obama said in a written statement released Sunday. “At a time when, tragically, we are seeing an increase in reports of violence and harassment targeting members of the LGBT community from Russia to Nigeria, I salute all those in Uganda and around the world who remain committed to respecting the human rights and fundamental human dignity of all persons.”