August 11, 2014
Lawmakers in Kenya Propose New 'Stone the Gays' Law
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Lawmakers in Kenya have proposed a new law that would call for gay people to be sentenced to death by stoning, Pink News reports.
The new Anti-Homosexuality Bill has been submitted to the Republican Liberty Party in Kenya's National Assembly. If the measure is passed into law, it would introduce violent punishments for members of the LGBT community. Those found "guilty" of being gay would be sentenced to life in prison or would face the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."
"The petition aims at providing a comprehensive and enhanced legislation to protect the cherished culture of the people of Kenya, legal, religious and traditional family values against the attempts of sexual rights activists seeking to impose their values of sexual promiscuity on the people of Kenya," Edward Onwong'a Nyakeriga, the bill's author, said, according to Pink News.
"There is need to protect children and youth who are vulnerable to sexual abuse and deviation as a result of cultural changes, uncensored information technology, parentless child developmental settings and increasing attempts by homosexuals to raise children in homosexual relationships through adoption, foster care or otherwise," he added.
The bill also carries language that calls for life sentences for anyone who runs "brothels for homosexuality purposes," which could be used to go after anyone who lives with a gay person.
Pink News points out Kenya's current penal code:
"Any male person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, or procures another male person to commit any act of gross indecency with him, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any male person with himself or with another male person, whether in public or private, is guilty of a felony."
Earlier this year Pink News reported in a separate article that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta signed a bill into law that legalizes heterosexual polygamy, while he stood firm on his opposition to homosexuality.
