LONDON, March 1, 2010  –  Opposition to the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda has been expressed by the chief executive of the Scout Association UK, Derek Twine, who describes the proposed legislation now going through the Ugandan Parliament as “discriminatory” and “incompatible” with scouting values.

The Bill was tabled last autumn by David Bahati MP, who is also Chairman of the Scout Association of Uganda.

Mr Twine’s statement (copy in full below) follows representations to the UK and international scout movement by the London-based LGBT human rights organisation, OutRage!

“We find the Bill not only discriminatory and contrary to the sanctity of life, but also completely incompatible with our interpretation of the values of our worldwide Scouting Movement,” Mr. Twine wrote to Peter Tatchell of Outrage! in a letter published this morning.

“We have already drawn our grave concerns on this to the attention of the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and we are subsequently aware that the issues are now subject both to WOSM’s direct engagement with the Chief Scout of Uganda (Mrs Maggie Kigozi) and to ongoing global consideration by members of the World Scout Committee,” he wrote.

This statement from the UK Scout Association follows simultaneous direct representations by OutRage! to the World Organisation of the Scout Movement in Geneva which has already said that a letter had been sent to both the Chief Scout and the Chief Commissioner of the Uganda Scout Association about the Bill which is sponsored by Mr. Bahati.

“This swift action followed our protests against Mr Bahati to the Scout Association UK,” Mr. Tatchell said this morning.

“Scouting is very big in Uganda and Mr Bahati derives great prestige from his position as Chairman of the Scout Association of Uganda.  If we can get him removed from office it will be a significant personal blow to him.  He'll be weakened and his credibility undermined.

”OutRage! is urging the disaffiliation of the Ugandan scout organisation from the world scouting movement, as a way of adding further pressure on the Ugandan government to drop the Bill.

“Our request for disaffiliation was immediately forwarded by the Scout Association UK to the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in Geneva,” he said.

OutRage! says its actions are an attempt to open up a new front in the campaign against the Bill “and to graphically expose the full ramifications of the proposed legislation on youth and civic organisations in Uganda, which have received little coverage so far”.

“By highlighting the particular threat to LGBT scout members, we are not detracting in any way from the wider issues and consequences of Mr Bahati's draconian legislation,” Mr. Tatchell continued.

“LGBT scouts and scout leaders are, of course, only one section of the Ugandan LGBT community.  All Ugandan LGBTs are at risk if this Bill becomes law.  We are concerned about the danger to them all – and the threat to their straight families, friends, supporters and allies,” he emphasised.

Full statement by the Scout Association UK received by Outrage!

UGANDA

Since the mid-1990s, The Scout Association has been clear and unequivocal in our equal opportunities policy and practice especially regarding sexual orientation, as befitting our role in contemporary society.

We are recently aware that the Ugandan Parliament has received a Bill that calls for the death sentence for repeat practicing of homosexuality. This Bill is presented by a Ugandan MP (David Bahati) who is also currently the National Chairman of the Uganda Scout Association. In terms of our own policies and understandings, we find the Bill not only discriminatory and contrary to the sanctity of life, but also completely incompatible with our interpretation of the values of our worldwide Scouting Movement.

We have already drawn our grave concerns on this to the attention of the Secretary General of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and we are subsequently aware that the issues are now subject both to WOSM's direct engagement with the Chief Scout of Uganda (Mrs Maggie Kigozi) and to ongoing global consideration by members of the World Scout Committee.

We hope that the bilateral and very positive educational and solidarity projects that have been fostered for many years between Scout Groups in the UK and Scout Groups in Uganda on such matters as health and community development will not be prejudiced or compromised by this situation; we await the formal and public response from the Scout Association of Uganda and from WOSM, whereupon we will review our position.

ENDS

Originally published at http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/10/Mar/0102.htm

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