While Gays in America Cannot Get Married, Gays In Senegal Cannot Escape Prison

Under Article 319 of the Senegalese Penal Code, gay sex is illegal. The law is being used to target four men arrested on “crimes against nature.” Two men were just sentenced to prison terms. A third stands trial later this month. A fourth’s future is in limbo. And while some gay men escape such ridiculous charges, Senegal’s history of persecuting LGBTs — whether state-sponsored discrimination or civilian-led lynchings — is deplorable. Aren’t there international human rights laws about this sort of thing? Yes, there are, though we’ve yet to hear from the U.S. Department of State acknowledging such.