PM says Uganda bill ‘appalling ’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on Uganda to repeal legislation the East African country passed this week to bring in a death penalty targeting members of the LGBTQ community. The legislation prescribes the death penalty for the offence of “aggravated homosexuality,” such as having sex while being HIV positive, and life imprisonment for homosexuality, as well as jail terms of up to 20 years for those promoting LGBTQ rights. A suspect convicted of “attempted aggravated homosexuality” can be jailed for 14 years and the offence of “attempted homosexuality” is punishable by up to 10 years, according to the bill. Trudeau says he wants to “condemn in the absolute strongest terms the despicable law put forward by the Ugandan government.” The prime minister says he’s considering options to support the LGBTQ community in Uganda, and that all world leaders — especially fellow members of the Commonwealth — should condemn the “appalling and abhorrent” legislation.