I was pleased when the Financial Services Committee overwhelmingly, in a bipartisan way, voted in favor of my amendment urging the Secretary of the Treasury to oppose any financial assistance from multilateral development institutions to countries that persecute people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or religious beliefs. In the discussion of the amendment I offered, I specifically mentioned the deeply troubling case of Uganda, which is now considering legislation to legally deprive people of these basic human rights.
If the bill before the Ugandan parliament becomes law, it must be the policy of the United States government to oppose any aid to Uganda from the World Bank, the African Development Bank, or any other international financial institution of which we are a member.
— Congressman Barney Frank, in today’s statement threatening to deny Uganda the $500 million it provides in foreign aid should the bill passes. Thanks, Barney, for stepping up the pressure; our British friends are doing the same.
David Gervais
Looking for outside the US, please you people there, phone or email your local congresscritter of any political colour and urge them to support this initiative.
Cam
I’m so happy that Barney Frank FINALLY really started moving on some of the gay issues. For so long he didn’t want to be the “Gay” politician, but I think finally the eviceration he took in the press when he tried to block the first DADT bill got through to him.
Good Work Barney, keep it up.
Andy
How about we cut off funding until they pass pro-LGBT legislation to undo the damage? Or we can apply that to our own government.
bajaboy
They’ll have to fine tune that or Israel will be cut off!
Cam
@bajaboy:
Considering that the Gaza and West bank arrest gays, and torture them with govt. support, their funding would be cut off. but it looks like you forgot that part. It’s ok, I added it in for you.
Jeffree
I’m glad to see Barney Frank get this issue right, and aim to provide leverage in the only really effective manner (that I can think of, at least).
It would also be great to see more vocal outrage on the part of socially-moderate/liberal Christians, because US pastors & preachers have been the key supporters of Ugandan legislation on LGBT people.
SanFranRick
The time has come that we must band together to start a grassroots movement to cut any foreign aid to Uganda. The people of Uganda can decide to run their government as they please, however, when they begin to institutionalize hatred then we, the American people, have a right to say that our monies must not be used to further this insanity. The Ugandan people greedily take our money but then deny us any right as to how it is spent. I, personally, do not want my tax money spent on legislation to murder innocent people. And also on a personal level someone should look into the life of the Ugandan minister who is so focused on homosexual acts. It is often said, “Where there is smoke, there is fire”. This man doth protest too much!