# Uganda anti-gay law overturned

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 1, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583 "2014-08-01T16:56:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583/1 "2014-08-01T16:56:18Z")

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> **[Uganda anti-gay law declared 'null and void' by constitutional court](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/01/uganda-anti-gay-law-null-and-void)**
>
> Judges strike down legislation on a technicality, but activists say homosexuality remains criminal offence under colonial-era laws

At least for the time being, the new law allowing up to life in prison for being gay has been stopped. It was voided on the technicality of there not having been a quorum voting and not on the actual merits, but it’s still a good start.

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**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583/2 "2014-08-02T05:45:19Z")

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> [@Antinor01](#):
>
> …but it’s still a good start.

Well, it gives the Ugandan president an opportunity to improve relations with Western nations, while still maintaining face with his constituents. And it gives the U.S. a chance to keep supporting Uganda without looking too bad. Will it actually help gay Ugandans? My impression was that the law was mostly a reflection of the widespread attitude already in place.

[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/01/the-uganda-ruling-is-good-for-everyone-but-gays.html](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/01/the-uganda-ruling-is-good-for-everyone-but-gays.html)

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**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2014, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583/3 "2014-08-02T06:13:01Z")

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I agree that it could get worse, certainly. But even with their completely backwards societal attitudes, having the government step in with life sentences doesn’t help.

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uganda-anti-gay-law-overturned/694583/4 "2023-06-02T23:06:47Z")

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Nine years later much the same law is back again:

> **[Uganda's new anti-gay legislation includes death sentence in some cases](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ugandas-new-anti-gay-legislation-includes-death-sentence-for-in-some-cases)**
>
> This version doesn't criminalize those who identify as LGBTQ, still prescribes the death penalty for cases of sexual relations involving people infected with HIV, as well as with minors and other categories of vulnerable people.