Text of US HR 100 (2011)

IV 112TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 100 Honoring the life of David Kato and all who are victims of violence in Uganda because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 17, 2011 Mr. GUTIERREZ (for himself, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. PAYNE) submitted the following reso- lution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Honoring the life of David Kato and all who are victims of violence in Uganda because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Whereas Uganda has experienced decades of political unrest; Whereas the Government of Uganda has systematically re- pressed dissenting voices; Whereas the United States Government provides $456,800,000 in military and humanitarian aid to Ugan- da each year in addition to the annual World Bank com- mitment of $100,000,000; Whereas basic human rights and civil liberties are already under threat in Uganda and in the surrounding region for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) indi- viduals; VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:47 Feb 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR100.IH HR100 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 100 IH Whereas the Ugandan Parliament is considering legislation to further criminalize homosexuality, even imposing the death penalty and further compromising basic civil rights; Whereas the Ugandan Parliament is considering legislation that turns neighbor against neighbor, and family member against family member by requiring reporting of friends and family who identify as LGBT to government authori- ties; Whereas the debate around the proposed legislation has pro- moted a climate of fear and insecurity throughout Ugan- da and has led to deadly acts of violence; Whereas David Kato began fighting for LGBT rights in Uganda upon return from Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1998; Whereas after witnessing the transition from apartheid and the growth of rights for LGBT people in South Africa, Mr. Kato began fighting for similar acceptance in Ugan- da; Whereas despite adversity, Mr. Kato campaigned for LGBT rights in addition to his work as a school teacher, helping to develop HIV/AIDS policies with a number of organiza- tions; Whereas when the legislation criminalizing homosexuality was proposed, Mr. Kato decided to quit his work as a school teacher and dedicate his life to the campaign for the rights of LGBT people; Whereas Mr. Kato’s name and picture were published in a Ugandan magazine along with other potential homo- sexuals under the headline ‘‘Hang Them’’; Whereas although the Ugandan High Court ruled that such media attention violated human dignity and the right to VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:47 Feb 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR100.IH HR100 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 100 IH privacy, threats continued, and on January 26, 2011, Mr. Kato was beaten to death with a hammer in his home; Whereas the gruesome nature of Mr. Kato’s death has had a chilling effect for all human rights defenders and nor- malizes violence against vulnerable people; Whereas international human rights organizations continue to call for a proper investigation by the Ugandan police into Mr. Kato’s vicious murder; Whereas intimidation, violence, and the threat of violence continues against defenders and allies of LGBT individ- uals and the broader society with the apparent acquies- cence of the state; Whereas many of the crimes against LGBT persons have gone unpunished; and Whereas the Government of Uganda, like all other nations, has an obligation to uphold human rights based upon international treaties and its own High Court rulings: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) honors the life of David Kato and all who 2 are victims of violence in Uganda because of their 3 sexual orientation or gender identity; 4 (2) calls on the global community to fill the 5 void that is left by the tragic murder of Mr. Kato 6 and to continue to passionately advocate for the 7 human rights of all individuals; 8 VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:47 Feb 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR100.IH HR100 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 100 IH (3) urges the Government of Uganda to thor- 1 oughly investigate Mr. Kato’s death and to share its 2 findings with the international community; 3 (4) condemns the atmosphere of anti-gay senti- 4 ment that supports and endorses violence against 5 the LGBT community; and 6 (5) calls on the Government of Uganda, as 7 friends of the Ugandan Government and, more im- 8 portantly, the Ugandan people, to ensure that all of 9 its citizens can live openly and freely, without threat 10 of violence or reprisal. 11 Æ VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:47 Feb 18, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR100.IH HR100 smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS