WASHINGTON — Members of the Congressional Black Caucus called on the Obama administration Tuesday to review all aid to countries with laws criminalizing homosexuality.
“Such laws not only violate human rights, they endanger lives and undermine public health efforts,” said 41 members of the caucus, in a letter to U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
The letter, while praising the administration’s efforts in response to a draconian law signed by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, it urges the U.S. to reassess its relationships with all countries with similar anti-gay laws.
Lawmakers noted that Nigeria recently enacted legislation similar to Uganda, and that many other African nations have similar laws or are considering new or strengthened measures.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
“Such laws not only violate human rights, they endanger lives and undermine public health efforts, most notably programs to address HIV/AIDS, which must be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner in order to be effective,” the letter states.
A senior source at the State Department acknowledged to LGBTQ Nation on Tuesday that administration officials are “reviewing” partnerships in Uganda, however the official declined to provide any details.
Article continues below
In Tuesday’s letter, the CBC members asked Kerry to empower U.S. embassies to protect and assist “individuals endangered by anti-LGBT laws.”
The lawmakers expressed that they’d like to see the administration divert aid dollars away from any governments and non-governmental organizations that “support discriminatory laws.”