Uganda: President Urges Removal of Death Penalty Provision from Anti Gay Bill

Gay Ugandans likely won't face the death penalty after the president said he opposed the provision in proposed legislation, but an international gay rights group said Thursday even a watered-down bill would be repressive. President Yoweri Museveni has told colleagues he believes the bill is too harsh and has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision, which would apply to sexually active gays living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape according to a copy of the draft law. The proposed bill, though, says anyone convicted of a homosexual act - which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act - would face life imprisonment. It is unclear whether Museveni supports that provision or not. Gay rights activists say the bill, introduced in the fall of 2009, promotes hatred and could set back efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the conservative East African country. Protests already have been held in London, New York and Washington. Full Story from WRAL.com: http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/world/story/6757695/

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