Grassley condemns Ugandan anti-homosexuality proposal

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

Sen. Chuck Grassley has condemned a proposal in Uganda's parliament to criminalize homosexuality, calling it “un-Christian and unjust.”

Grassley, a self-described born-again Christian, issued a statement late Friday saying he hopes parliamentarians in the East African nation drop the proposal that calls for life sentences for people convicted of sex with a same-gender partners and execution if convicted more than once.

The legislation, which also calls for executing Ugandans who test positive for HIV, is inconsistent with his commitment to traditional values, “including how marriage is defined and respect for life,” the Iowa Republican said.

Grassley was unaware of the proposal “beyond the news reporters who asked about it and the few constituents who contacted me.” One Iowa, Iowa's largest gay-rights said more than 700 members contacted Grassley's office asking him to speak out against the criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda. Grassley's office said it received about five petition letters from Iowans generated from the One Iowa Web site.

One Iowa turned to Grassley because of his perceived ties to Uganda parliamentarians through The Family, a Christian fundamentalist group which supposedly has several members who serve in Congress.

However, a Grassley spokeswoman said the senator “has not been in contact with The Family on this or other policy issues.”

He did, however, pursue the matter with the U.S. State Department. He was told that although there has been no official comment from the Obama administration, an assistant secretary privately relayed concerns to Uganda's president.

“Based on what I've been able to learn about the legislation and from the standpoint that I'm a born-again Christian,” Grassley said, “I can tell you that I don't agree with this un-Christian and unjust proposal, and I hope the Ugandan officials dismiss it.”

Bloomberg News reported Friday Uganda may drop the death penalty and life imprisonment from the anti-homosexuality bill.