With the Anti-Homosexuality Bill under consideration, “TheCall Uganda” threatens to export homophobia at a time when it could have deadly consequences.  Threats and violence against LGBT people are already increasing.  Many have had their photos in Ugandan newspapers with headlines describing them as “Top Homos.” http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/04/19/10764

Frank Mugisha, Chairperson of Sexual Minorities of Uganda, said, “Gay people are already fleeing their homes and have to move from house to house because of threats to their lives. Americans need to stop Lou Engle from coming to Uganda.”

Lou Engle is just the latest American evangelical to go to Uganda.  The most damaging were three American evangelicals from the United States – Scott Lively, Caleb Lee Brundidge, and Don Schmierer – who held a three-day conference on homosexuality in Kampala, Uganda in March 2009. Video of Lively at this conference shows him saying gay people were behind the Nazi holocaust and labeling all gay people as child molesters.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amVnWtpR1is

Days later, MP David Bahati proposed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 to the Ugandan Parliament.  This Bill would allow for the imprisonment of anyone who failed to report a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender person.  It calls for the death penalty for so called “serial offenders,” and extradition of Ugandans perceived to be gay—wherever they are in the world.

Hundreds of other religious leaders have signed petitions and sent letters to top officials in Uganda.  President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have publicly challenged the proposed bill and worked behind the scenes to reach the current stalemate. Even evangelicals like Rick Warren and Joyce Meyer have condemned the bill, despite being against LGBT equality.

Now Engle is going to Uganda.  In the past, Engle has encouraged followers to be martyrs for their faith and has spoken of casting out “homosexual spirits” and called San Francisco their “dominion of darkness.” He fired up a massive pro-Prop 8 rally by encouraging an audience of 20,000 to prepare for martyrdom. http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/12/21/18614

SOURCES 
African letter to Ugandan President to throw out Anti-Homosexuality Bill: http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=22761

Ugandan church leader brands anti-gay bill 'genocide': http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine/2009/dec/04/gideon-byamugisha-homosexuality-bill

Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda's Anti-homosexuality Bill By Sylvia Tamale, The Dean of Law at Uganda's Makerere University: http://www.zeleza.com/blogging/african-affairs/human-rights-impact-assessment-ugandas-anti-homosexuality-bill-sylvia-tamal