Just one day after Uganda’s president signed a law that punishes gays with possible lifelong prison sentences, a local newspaper published a list of what editors determined to be the “200 top” homosexuals in the country — some of whom had not yet been outed.
The Red Pepper blared a front page headline: “EXPOSED!” Listed were some of the nation’s most prominent names, including a popular hip-hop star, a Catholic priest and a gay rights activist who warned that the president’s new crackdown on gays would lead to national unrest and violence, the Associated Press reported.
The new law allows for those discovered to be gay — including for first-time offenders — to be imprisoned up to life.
The original version of the bill called for the death penalty for those found guilty of “aggravated homosexuality,” which was then defined as gay sex between consulting adults and acts involving at least one minor, a disabled person or an HIV-infected individual, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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