Texas Senator Ted Cruz has surprised many people by posting a strongly-worded condemnation of new anti-LGBTQ legislation that became law in Uganda this week.
The African nation passed what many view as one of the most draconian anti-gay laws in the world. Same-sex sexual activity was already illegal in the country.
However, the Anti-Homosexuality Act signed into law yesterday by President Yoweri Museveni goes further. Anyone found guilty of being gay faces life imprisonment. It also introduces the death penalty for so-called “aggravated” cases. This includes gay sex with someone under 18, or transmitting HIV via gay sex.
It introduces a 20-year jail sentence for those found guilty of the “promotion of homosexuality”. It also criminalizes the provision of support – whether in kind or financially – to facilitate any activities that encourage homosexuality.
The legislation has been condemned by international human rights groups. President Biden issued a strong statement calling it “shameful” and calling for its immediate repeal. He has threatened to cut funding to Uganda and is mulling “Additional steps, including the application of sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption.”
“Horrific & wrong”
Many in the Republican Party have not commented on the law. However, Cruz yesterday took to Twitter to condemn it.
“This Uganda law is horrific & wrong,” Cruz said. “Any law criminalizing homosexuality or imposing the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ is grotesque & an abomination. ALL civilized nations should join together in condemning this human rights abuse. #LGBTQ”
Cruz’s comments prompted thousands of comments and retweets. The reaction can largely be split down four lines.
First, there were many who said they were forced to agree with Cruz for the first time in their life.
You know what? We rarely agree but I appreciate you saying this.
— Guillermo Mena🏳️🌈🇵🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@GuilloMena) May 29, 2023
You’re right, but this is so out of left field for you
— 🎒Dan 🎒 (@BoyInHD) May 30, 2023
Did I read this correctly? Am I having a fever dream? Is he actually advocating for LGBTQ rights?
— MI Rights Count Project (@CountRights) May 29, 2023
Then there were the tweets that reminded Cruz of his own voting record on LGBTQ+ issues.
This you?
— Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) May 29, 2023
This type of work from you feeds homophobia across the world. One of the key leaders of the Uganda kill the gay law is a Republican pastor from the US who loves your work at home.https://t.co/BY66uKXV17 pic.twitter.com/bFZEXumDXW
So crush bud light and target
— GOPisComplicit now with parody/satire in title 🙄 (@GOPisComplicit) May 29, 2023
But condemn Uganda. Why. Do they have a no extradition treaty? Ted?
Great, now call out @GovRonDeSantis for his law where teachers can't even say gay in the schools.
— Michael VanDeMar (@mvandemar) May 29, 2023
Advancing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation in the US signals to other countries that they can do the same.
— Jack Turban MD (@jack_turban) May 29, 2023
Why would Uganda expect repercussions for these human rights abuses, when your GOP party has been advancing its own?
Related*
Ted Cruz tries to keep the Bud Light controversy alive by calling for a GoVeRnMeNt InVeStIGaTiOn
Cruz says Bud Light enlisted Mulvaney to market its product towards underage kids.
There were plenty of right-wingers who used the tweet as evidence that Cruz must be a RINO or said he was meddling in another country’s affairs.
They have the right to do whatever they want. Keep your nose in America's business, we have our own problems
— McKaylaRose (@McKaylaRoseRed) May 29, 2023
Finally, there were then the conspiracy theories and speculation as to why Cruz had chosen to slam the Ugandan law. These touched upon Ugandan gold, the sexuality of Cruz’s family members, to Ted’s political ambitions. He’s reportedly facing a tough re-election battle in 2024 in a Texan seat that has inched toward flipping blue in recent years.
Either way, it would be welcome to see a more people from across the political spectrum from speaking out on what is a horrific law.
The Anti-Homosexuality Bill was overwhelmingly passed by the Ugandan Parliament on 21 March. On 21 April, President Museveni refused to sign the bill into law, sending it back to MPs to reword a few clauses. On 2 May, MPs voted for the amended bill and again sent it to the president, who duly signed it.
Related*
Ted Cruz backpedals hard on that homophobic conspiracy theory, but it’s too little too late
Cruz is trying his best to distance himself from that violently homophobic rumor he helped peddle last year.
Mister P
Keep hope alive!
abfab
Could Barack run again if he so desired? Oh, or was this a Jesse Jackson slogan you were referring to? It’s been so long!
cuteguy
I don’t trust Cancun Ted. He’s a hypocrite bc he’s voted against lgbtq+ rights and protections. I hope ppl don’t buy his bs and loses his seat in Texas
abfab
It’s Mr. Haney from Green Acres! Both shiesters and both ugly. May he rot slowly along with all the other GOP TROLLS. Be gone!
dbmcvey
It’s a trap.
cuteguy
@abfunk
How in the world am I a GQP troll if I’m condemning Cancun Ted? Have you taken your dementia meds yet? Why do they allow you old farts access to wifi in the retirement home? Ho eat your jello, dunk your dentures and go to sleep old man.
abfab
@cuteguy. I wasn’t talking about you. But now that I think about it……………
RIGay
Sorry, your pathetic attempt to win that very necessary “Gay” vote won’t work. Go. Away.
FreddieW
Good. Glad to know he isn’t completely nuts. Of course, I thought the same when Trump sounded supportive of gay rights at the RNC, and look how that turned out.
inbama
Every now and then he has to toss a bone to the Log Cabin Republicans in exchange for donations. And this particular issue has the added advantage of showing that “blackness” can be as evil as “whiteness.”
dbmcvey
Are there any actual gay people in Log Cabin anymore? Their last spokeswoman was a full on homophobe.
inbama
@dbmcvey
I wonder if Caitlin’s joined since she identifies as a lesbian.
abfab
If that’s what you wonder about…….
Fahd
Senator Cruz will probably be on Fox News in the next days apologizing for this “mistake” of his. I don’t believe he has any concern for anyone’s human rights.
I do not like that Senator Cruz
I do not like his far right views
I do not like his stupid chin
I do not like his smarmy grin
I do not like him with a beard
I do not like him freshly sheared
I do not like what he just said
I do not like his boxy head
I do not like him wearing glasses
I do not like him greeting kids in classes
I do not like his stupid suits
I do not like his cowboy boots
I do not like him when he sneezes
I do not like him eating cheeses
I do not like him in the leaves
I do not like him when he feeds
I do not like him by a wall
I do not like his tattoo at all
I do not like him in a room
I do not like him in Cancun
I do not like him playing ball
I do not like his face at all
From John Oliver
Bosch
“If a man also lie with mankind”
Did you know? The original text doesn’t say “mankind”, it says “boy”. As in, a child.
Due to bad translation, it now condemns gays and spares child abusers.
Mack
Actually it’s a joke. The Bible is written by men with the same bigotry and racism of men. It’s nothing more than a book of stories made up to keep stupid people in line.
FreddieW
I think you’ve bought into liberal Christian propaganda. The Bible is homophobic throughout.
I attended a class at an inclusive church when I left evangelical Christianity. It was all about the “clobber passages”. I discovered in the first session that nobody there believed in Sodom and Gomorrah. They were only interested in constructing answers to traditional Christian interpretations. In other words, it’s a sham. They don’t really believe their gay-inclusive interpretations, and maybe you shouldn’t either.
You can be happy without religion. My best guess for why it’s so important for liberal Christians to keep you religious is that the average clergyman is unprepared to work in the real world.
Bosch
@Freddie
I would consider it propaganda if we couldn’t verify it, but all we have to do is look at Bibles from.
before the 1940s. Greek, Hebrew, German, Swedish, Norwegian bibles, all of them explicitly condemn pedastry in these passages. It was originally a criticism of Greek and Roman tradition.
My point isn’t so much that Bible is less homophobic than we think, my point is that there seems to have been purpose and intention in shifting the focus from child abusers to gay men. It fits the narrative of the church scapegoating us, while protecting child abusers in their organization.
Mister P
It really doesn’t matter what some people wrote almost 2000 years ago. We should not let an old book influence our modern and more enlightened society.
abfab
This man died 2,023 years ago. Why can’t they let him RIP already?
Scribe38
Just want to remind my fellow queers and Americans, that this man is no friend of ours. He went to court trying to stop the sell of sex toys .
‘There was a “government” interest, it maintained, in “discouraging…autonomous sex.” The brief compared the use of sex toys to “hiring a willing prostitute or engaging in consensual bigamy,” and it equated advertising these products with the commercial promotion of prostitution. In perhaps the most noticeable line of the brief, Cruz’s office declared, “There is no substantive-due-process right to stimulate one’s genitals for non-medical purposes unrelated to procreation or outside of an interpersonal relationship.” That is, the pursuit of such happiness had no constitutional standing. And the brief argued there was no “right to promote dildos, vibrators, and other obscene devices.”’
Bosch
Sounds like the plot of a Mike Judge satire.
ScottOnEarth
Although he’s correct about Uganda’s horrifying new law, Cruz has consistently proven himself to be a staunch enemy of Queer people and one tweet will not change that. Everything he does is for his own advancement, so this anomalous tweet was obviously posted with an ulterior motive. He will be back-pedaling in 4…3…2…….
abfab
He’s also a staunch enemy of good grooming and proper personal hygene. I think you can actually SEE the stench rising from his frame.
Kangol2
It’s unfortunate that rather than just covering Uganda’s horrible new law, which US evangelicals like the Witzke woman strongly support, Queerty has to lump Ted Phony Cruz in to make him look even mildly LGBTQ-supportive. In reality he has repeatedly supported anti-gay and anti-LGBTQ politicians, judges and policies for most of his career. It’s online and in print for anyone willing to check. He is a horrible conservative fake who does little for the majority of his constituents who aren’t super-rich, and he should be voted out in the next election. Sadly, there’s little guarantee Texans will take that major step and do this.
abfab
DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS! Don’t you just love those bumperstickers? Like they need any help in the messing up department.
DavidIntl
Look, I am no fan of Ted Cruz, and disagree with a lot of his positions. But whenever someone takes a step in the correct direction – whatever the motivations may be – we should be praising and rewarding that move, not criticising it. Otherwise, we just discourage others from taking that step.
abfab
No, sorry can’t do, and don’t be fooled. SInce we’re here, I gotta know which positions you agree with this scum bucket on. Do tell!
dbmcvey
No. Not with these people.
DavidIntl
@abfab As a libertarian, I am generally going to disagree with all of the major party representatives on one set of issues or another. So, with a conservative like Cruz, I will disagree with most of his positions on social issues, but will agree with some of his views on economic policy. And no, that does not make me a troll, or somehow not gay. I just have a very pragmatic – and I believe well-informed – view of economic and foreign policy issues.
abfab
No one has called you a troll or straight. His views on economic policy? Tell us all about it! We are all ears.
FreddieW
He hasn’t called you a troll yet, but it’s on the tip of his tongue.
dbmcvey
DavidIntl
Ted Cruz has a long history of anti-gay actions and statements. This one thing in which his opinion really doesn’t do anything doesn’t change all of that.
inbama
@dbmcvey
Did DavidIntl remotely say anything like that?
Nah, you’re just doing that trans extremist straw-man thing to silence him or anyone else you suspect might not support the use of chemically castrating puberty-blockers on children.
abfab
@immbama Defending yourself is one thing (which you don’t do well, I might add) but coming to the aid of another falls flat and exposes you…to how pathetic you are. Stop.
inbama
@abfab
Once again as you can’t disprove what I said, you repeat the same tired insults.
You’re a sad attention-seeking troll. You don’t care whether the response you get is positive or negative – anything will do to give some meaning to your pathetic excuse for a life.
dbmcvey
Inbama,
I didn’t say anything about trans. You’re just doing that “gay conservative” straw manning. In fact, everything I said about Ted Cruz is true.
inbama
@dbmcvey
You responded to David saying, “This one thing in which his opinion really doesn’t do anything doesn’t change all of that.”
He never implied anything remotely like that.
Or have I misinterpreted your statement and you were actually agreeing with David?
dbmcvey
And I didn’t say he did inbama.
mildredspierce
A wealth of jokes here but for once and for what it’s worth, thanks Ted.
abfab
As Sophia would say, he’s a miserable botchagalloop. Arrogant, obnoxious and just as boring as a dried up oil well.
dbmcvey
Cruise’s account has been hacked.
Joshooeerr
Unless I’ve missed it, Queerty’s only coverage of the new Ugandan laws is this article on what Ted Cruz thinks about them. Shouldn’t an LGBT website try a bit harder to put the focus on the abhorrent laws themselves, and maybe what can be done to put pressure on Uganda through putting pressure on our own representatives, wherever you happen to be? Or is it still the case that anything that happens in the world outside the US is only of interest insofar as how it can be used to generate news about something or someone within the US?
inbama
Had Uganda’s law prevented the medical transition of children, it would have been covered.
Like Iran and many other Third World countries, Uganda is rabidly anti-gay but permits “sex change,” so it is spared any criticism by the LGBTQ+ community and media.
cheks
inbama, do like just making up nonsense? Ugandan doctors do not prescribe HRT for fear of losing their licenses.
Additionally this bill criminalizes any person who “holds out as a lesbian, gay, transgender, a queer, or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female,” with a punishment of up to ten years in prison.
Why are you flat out lying? Do you really hate trans people so much? Please go touch grass.
abfab
Cricketts
inbama
@check
My mistake.
Earlier articles did not include trans identification as they all do now – just not in the title as here: cbsnews.com/news/uganda-lgbtq-law-homosexuality-museveni-life-sentence-death-penalty/
While I challenge Queer Theory and call out recklesness that endangers LGBT folks, I have no reason to “hate” transpeople. Recent studies show that gay men and androphilic transsexuals share much of the same brain atypicality in the gender region of the brain.
We’re sisters.
abfab
Too little too late, bitch. It changes nothing. You’re limited and shallow. My mistake? Just one of hundreds.
inbama
@adflab
I correct my errors.
That’s something an ethics-free troll like you would never do.
abfab
Shove it.
abfab
@ josh Read The Washington Blade because they are on this story. You’re expectations of Q are too high. And please. Ignore imbama because his proclamations are untrue, per usual.
inbama
@abflab
Christ, dealing with you is like stepping in a mix of dog-poo and bubble gum.
Near impossible to get rid of. and the stench is terrible.
abfab
Please, no one needs such details about where and how you tread, when you go outside…..Sounds like a lovely neighborhood.
johncp56
This was an easy catch for him He is still in the club with Peance, Ron the blob, and many more,
wow why are we so hated in some countries they actually get away with murder as laws like this just tell the thugs go ahead and hurt them, maybe I’m to old but it is getting scary even in the states here for us Mows all i ask that I can love another man pleasure his D without getting killed