On top of being a massive violation of basic human rights, as well as a willfully ignorant and scientifically backward piece of legislation, Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill might also be severely damaging the public health of the country by making the fight against HIV/AIDS harder.
According to Gay Star News, advocates in Uganda are already seeing antiretroviral medication restricted. Not only that, but gay men and women with HIV are afraid to go to hospitals, for fear they’ll be treated as criminals.
Frank Kamya, the leader of Uganda’s Come Out Post-Test Club, says that they’re trying to provide for HIV/AIDS patients as discreetly as possible: “We are trying to work underground, but now the challenge is that we have so much more work to do than before.”
Unfortunately, even providing resources for LGBT men and women could be illegal under the bill. As NPR pointed out, the bill “also makes it a crime to ‘promote’ homosexuality, which could mean simply offering HIV counseling.”
So basically, Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill is every bit as bad — and possibly even worse — than Russia’s anti-gay-propaganda law. It doesn’t just make it illegal to so much as speak positively of homosexuals in the country, but it’s also keeping people from seeking help in an area of the world that’s already being ravaged by HIV/AIDS. It’s important to focus on both countries and what they’re doing in regard to gay rights, but don’t let one take precredence over the other just because of the Olympics.
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