Late Thursday, in the House of Commons, during question period, both the NDP and the Conservative Party strongly denounced Uganda’s pending anti-gay legislation that would make homosexuality a crime.

Bill Siksay, NDP Critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender Issues during question period in the House of Commons on Thursday. (Screencap from ParlVU video footage)

Ottawa — During question period in the House of Commons on Thursday, Bill Siksay, MP (Burnaby-Douglas) and NDP Critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender Issues stood up and called on the government to stand up and speak out against Uganda’s anti-gay bill.

“Mr. Speaker, The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill is reprehensible vile, and hateful. It violates human rights by imposing life imprisonment on gays and lesbians and a death sentence on those who are gay and have AIDS. It will jail anyone who fails to report anyone they know to be gay,” Mr. Siksay stated.

“At the Commonwealth meeting, will the Prime Minister meet face to face with Uganda’s prime minister to help stop this bill, and will he make gay, lesbian and trans rights essential to the development and educational work supported by Canadian foreign aid to Uganda and elsewhere?” Mr. Siksay asked in conclusion.

John Baird, the Minister of Transport spoke for Prime Minister Harper because the Prime Minister wasn’t in the House as he was preparing to depart for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting being held over the weekend.

Mr. Baird replied, “The current legislation before Parliament in Uganda is vile, it’s abhorrent, it’s offensive. It offends Canadian values. It offends decency Mr. Speaker. We strongly condemn that and the Prime Minister will make that strong condemnation as well.”

Both MP’s speeches were well received all around in the House, more so than a few of the other questions that had been posed during this question period.

Earlier in the week, Mr. Siksay had written to Prime Minister Harper on this issue; in it he wrote:

“I am writing to request that you take a strong public position in opposition to legislation now being considered in Uganda that constitutes a major affront the human rights of gay and lesbian people and a significant setback to AID/HIV policy. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill is a very serious attack on the lives of sexual minorities and those living with AIDS/HIV, and it is draconian in every respect.

I would urge that you and your officials lead efforts at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting on this issue in the hope that the meeting takes a strong stand in opposition to this legislation and has in place a plan of action should it proceed. I would also request that you make Canada’s position known directly to Uganda’s representatives at the meeting.”

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, takes place from November 27 to 29 and is slated to be chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The news from the House of Commons is an encouraging and welcome development that strengthens the previous statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office earlier in the week and indicates that perhaps it won’t be business as usual with Uganda and the Commonwealth.

Late Thursday, in the House of Commons, during question period, both the NDP and the Conservative Party strongly denounced Uganda’s pending anti-gay legislation that would make homosexuality a crime. Bill Siksay, NDP Critic for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender Issues during question period in the House of Commons on Thursday. (Screencap from ParlVU video [...]