Order, Order

We turn now to a vote on the nti-Homosexuality Act Condemnation Motion.

This House Recognises:

The Parliament of Uganda has passed legislation criminalising Homosexuality, with the death penalty for the crime of “Aggravated Homosexuality”, which includes repeat offenders. The additional action of “Promotion of Homosexuality” includes 20 years imprisonment. Being a member of the LGBT Community is, and ought to be, a basic right to be protected. Depression, self-harm and suicide rates among LGBT youth are on average more than 10 over the rate for Cisgender-Heterosexual people, and higher still if the individual is Genderqueer. Anti-homosexuality legislation marks only regressive attitudes on the world stage.

This House Therefore Urges That:

The Government issue a statement condemning this legislation outright. The Government take measures to provide funding or aid to LGBT groups and charities at home and abroad, such as the Trevor Project or the Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees.

This Motion was written by The Rt Hon u/realbassist PC MP MSP MLA, on behalf of the Liberal Party of Wales and is sponsored by the Rt. Hon. Sir u/TheVeryWetBanana PC OD MP MS MSP, the Independent MS Rt. Hon. Sir u/PoliticoBailey MP MS KG KT KD GBE KCT LVO, the Rt. Hon. u/BasedChurchill PC CBE MP and the Rt. Hon. Admiral Baron u/Gregor_The_Beggar of Holt, 1st Baron of Holt.

Opening speech:

Llywydd,

Today, I do not stand alone in proposing this Motion. Apart from the sponsors, to whom I owe an unpayable debt of gratitude, I stand here with all those who have died and suffered for the crime of being gay. It is a crime we pride ourselves on having decriminalised, and for the most part in this country the stigma behind it is gone. But it is not fully abolished, nor do we consider the experiences of LGBT people outside of such liberal countries.

In Uganda right now, one cannot be gay. This is not hyperbole or exaggeration, it is policy. Under the Anti-Homosexuality Act, it is now punishable by death to commit “Aggravated Homophobia”, which includes having gay sex with a mentally ill or disabled person or someone over the age of 75, regardless of if they consent. Of the 47 million people in Uganda, it is extremely difficult to ascertain who is Gay or Bisexual or Transgender, but one thing we can say for certainty is that innocent people are under direct threat, and if we do not formally condemn this then we are on the wrong side of history.

I know for a fact that it is difficult to live as an LGBT person in the UK, as do many members of this chamber. I have been called slurs by strangers for wearing a gay badge in public. I have been threatened, harassed and had people tell me to be celibate or God will reject me. I do not know the situations of every member of this chamber, Llywydd, but I do know that to people around this country, this does not sound unfamiliar. Now, imagine we are in Uganda under this law.

To be with the man you love, you will have to flee the country. To stay and continue to be with them is to be arrested and thrown in prison for years, possibly even for life. If you ever get out and you continue your relationship, you will be executed as a criminal. If I may quote from the Aeneid, where Nisus and Euryalus, a couple in love, are killed in battle. Nisus cries when he sees Euryalus about to die, “Hold your sword! His only crime is to love the wrong friend too much.” This is the crime for LGBT Ugandans right now, and the sentence is the same.

As I have said, we are lucky to not suffer such firm persecution in the United Kingdom. Things are not perfect, but they are not as bad as many others have it. To take the example of Florida, the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill was expanded recently to ensure no LGBT student can get support in their schools. Poland rather proudly has “Gay-free zones”, and the situation in Iran is so dire, there is a charity to help LGBT people escape. Uganda’s law is awful, but it is not unique by any means. One again, we are the scapegoat. Once again, we are the other.

I do not know, nor can it be predicted, how many will die as a result of this legislation. But even if we cannot repeal it on our own merit, we can stand against it and stand with the LGBT communities of not only Uganda but of Florida, of Iran, of Poland, and of the 12 countries where it is still a death penalty offence to be Gay. as I say, in this country we are largely safe. We are lucky. There are millions who are not, and who are, and will be, martyr’d for love by legislation exactly like this one that we see being passed in Uganda. If I may end on another quote from Virgil, in the same context, “No day shall erase you from the memory of time”.

Link to the Debate

Voting on this motion will end at the close of business on 4th of June at 10pm BST