Nigel Evans: ‘Ugandan MPs who voted for anti-gay bill are a complete disgrace’
Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker of the House of Commons has heavily criticised MPs in Uganda who voted in favour of a bill harshening punishments for homosexuality.
The bill also makes it a crime punishable by a prison sentence, not to report same-sex sexual activities to the police.
Writing on his Facebook page, Ugandan MPs who voted for this are a complete disgrace…..You have no choice about being gay, but you do have a choice to vote for or against this medieval twisted neanderthal bigotted shameful corrosive inhumane heap of bile which demeans all Ugandans.
“Personally I have a choice to visit or not to visit Uganda…..unlike being gay….so I choose not to visit Uganda whilst this scar on humanity remains on their statute book. God bless the brave gay rights activists living in Uganda- your struggle is ours.
Mr Evans has been the MP for Ribble Valley since 1992.
As deputy speaker, he sat as an independent MP but he will not take the Conservative whip and will remain an independent.
A clause which included the death penalty for some offences has been dropped.
The bill was first introduced in 2009 by MP David Bahati
US President Barack Obama called it “odious” in 2010,while some donors have suggested that they could cut aid to Uganda if it implements the bill.
President Yoweri Museveni still has to sign the bill before it becomes law.
“I am officially illegal,” Ugandan gay activist Frank Mugisha said after the vote on Friday.
Same-sex sexual relationships are illegal in Uganda with little to no legal protections existing for the LGBT community. A male convicted of same-sex activity can face up to life behind bars while a woman can face up to seven years.
