Human Rights Groups Criticize Gambia's Anti-Gay Bill

A number of officials from human rights organizations have taken aim at an anti-gay bill passed by Gambia's lawmakers last month and now awaits to be approved by the African country's anti-gay president, Yahya Jammeh.

As Gay Star News points out, members of U.S. human rights groups take issue with the measure, which imposes life imprisonment for homosexual acts, or "aggravated homosexuality." It also targets those living with HIV/AIDS.

"This bill is part of the rising tide of homophobia in many African nations, whose government leaders are working to deny the rights of their LGBT citizens through a campaign of misinformation and discriminatory laws and policies," Shawn Gaylord, advocacy counsel for LGBT rights at Human Rights First, said. "The United States and the international community should continue to work closely with African human rights activists and civil society leaders to promote the protection of the human rights of all Africans."

The Human Rights Campaign's director of global engagement, Ty Cobb, echoed similar statements about the measure, saying, "These draconian laws have no place in the 21st century, and the United States must send a clear message - privately or publicly - to the Gambian leadership that a government must not trample on the rights of its LGBT citizens."

Cobb added:

When a bill advances that deprives LGBT people of their basic human rights, whether it be in The Gambia, Nigeria, or Brunei, the Obama Administration should conduct a full diplomatic review of the United States' relationship with those countries. The US. government cannot move forward with business as usual when LGBT people are threatened with harassment, imprisonment, or even death because of who they are or whom they love.

By signing this law, President Jammeh would be riding a wave of anti-LGBT laws enacted in Africa. He has been one of the most violently vocal opponents of LGBT people - promoting stigmatization, calling them 'vermin' and even calling for their death."

Amnesty International's deputy regional director for West and Central Africa, Stephen Cockblum said: "President Jammeh should not approve this profoundly damaging act that violates international human rights law. Gambia's National Assembly and the President should not endorse state-sponsored homophobia."

Dr. Dimitrina Petrova, executive director of the Equal Rights Trust also responded to Gambia's National Assembly passing the measure.

"The Bill discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, denying them equal rights to which they are entitled under international law. It will have a devastating impact upon the lives of LGBT people in Gambia who, already suffering persecution, will now face the daily threat of life imprisonment," Petrova said (via Pink News). "This Bill is part of a homophobic trend, following similar draconian legislation in Nigeria and Uganda. The Equal Rights Trust will work in solidarity with its partners in Africa and elsewhere to counteract this trend and ensure all people their rights to freedom, dignity and equality."

Jammeh has 30 days from the date lawmakers approved the bill (Aug. 25) to sign the measure into law or return it to the National Assembly for further review.

"This new law will only heap further stigma on people who are already marginalized and living in a climate of deep fear and hate in Gambia," Graeme Reid, LGBT Rights Director at Human Rights Watch, said.