ANTI-GAY BILL AUTHOR DROPPED FROM OBAMA BREAKFAST

The politician behind Uganda’s anti-gay bill will not take part in an official breakfast in Washington which is hosted by members of the US Congress and will be attended by President Obama.

Uganda’s Sunday Monitor had earlier reported that MP David Bahati, who drafted the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill and introduced it into Uganda’s parliament, had told it that he would attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast on the 4th of February.

On Tuesday, however, the organisers of the event confirmed to blogger Warren Throckmorton that Bahati, “will not be attending the National Prayer Breakfast…”

According to reports, the invitation for Bahati to travel to Washington as a volunteer was made before the homophobic bill was submitted to Uganda’s legislature.

“The National Prayer Breakfast is an organization that builds bridges of understanding between all peoples, religions and beliefs and has never advocated the sentiments expressed in Mr. Bahati’s legislation,” said National Prayer Breakfast spokesperson, Ambassador Richard Swett in a statement to Throckmorton.

Bahati is the MP for the constituency of Ndorwa West and is a member of Uganda’s ruling party. His Anti-Homosexuality Bill would impose the death penalty on anyone who has consensual and safe sex with an HIV positive person or if found repeatedly guilty of homosexual acts.

It would also maintain the current life sentence for gay sex as well as making it illegal to lobby for LGBT equality, provide any support for LGBT people or even write about LGBT rights. People will also face jail time if they do not turn in gays and lesbians to the authorities.