NUMSA rejects homophobia and calls on the Ugandan government to abandon its anti-gay legislation
17 June 2023
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) rejects homophobia and calls on the Ugandan government to abandon its hateful, anti-gay legislation. NUMSA which represents the largest trade union in South Africa stands in solidarity with the LGBTQI population in Uganda and we extend our deepest sympathies to them for the shocking stance taken by the Ugandan government. On the 29th of May the Ugandan government signed into law a bill which basically demonizes homosexuality and which undermines all basic human rights. It cannot be that a person should be condemned and sentenced to extreme persecution, imprisonment and even death on the basis of their sexuality.
Under the law, a person who commits the offense of homosexuality which is defined as, “the performance of a sexual act by a person on another person of the same sex”, will be sentenced to life imprisonment. The offense of “aggravated homosexuality” where “the offender is defined a “serial offender,” or if the sexual act involves people living with HIV, carries the death penalty. According to Peoples Dispatch the Bill was rushed through Parliament in an apparent violation of its own rules of procedure.
Any person found to be knowingly allowing the use of any premises for “purposes of homosexuality” or other offenses under the Act can be imprisoned for seven years. Marriage, which in terms of the act is defined as “the union, whether formal or informal” between two people of the same sex remains banned. Any person who “purports to contract,” preside over, or attend or participate in preparing of such a marriage can be imprisoned for 10 years. The Act punishes the “promotion” of homosexuality, including the “advertisement, publication, printing, broadcasting, or distribution by any means” of materials deemed to be encouraging homosexuality.
Other actions mentioned in the bill include providing financial support to “facilitate activities that encourage homosexuality or the observance or normalization of conduct prohibited under this Act,” and even leasing or renting of buildings or homes to LGBTQ+ people. A person convicted under this section could face imprisonment for up to 20 years. So what does this mean for the parents of children who are gay? Are they supposed to surrender their children to authorities? How can the state put parents in a position where they might be jailed for supporting their homosexual children? Surely, this cannot be right and this is why NUMSA is saying this bill must be rejected.
NUMSA is a Marxist-Leninist inspired trade union and we reject all forms of discrimination. We are fighting for genuine equality and this means we must fight also for the rights of women, children, foreign nationals and all members of the LGBTQI community. We also know how capitalism separates the working class, by branding others as evil or ‘sinful’ in order to justify rampant exploitation and abuse of particular groups of people.
LGBTQI people are members of the working class. They are human beings deserving of equal rights and dignity. They risk being exploited just like other workers are, in fact, in some cases, their exploitation is worse, because they are discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality. Therefore, it is our revolutionary duty to defend the rights of the LGBTQI community and to join hands with them in order to fight against this form of oppression. The hatred of LGBTQI community has its roots in right-wing ideology and it must be rejected with contempt.
It is important to view this law in the context in the rise of homophobia in the U.S. as well where a raft of legislation is being introduced to criminalize homosexuality. According to Truthout.org, “more than 530 anti-LGBTQ bills have been drafted and proposed in state legislatures and in Congress. Of those bills, which were submitted between January 1 and May 31, 68 have been enacted into law, with only 122 officially failing so far.” The actions of right-wing Republican lawmakers in the U.S. are at the heart of the rise in homophobia worldwide, and their narrative is unfortunately promoted by the Christian Right wing in America, and this message is being spread throughout the globe.
If we accept that all humans are equal, then this belief must extend to all, including members of the LGBTQI community. We have members in our organisation who identify as part of that community and they should always know that NUMSA is a safe space for them and that they’re rights will be defended, in the same way that we fight and defend the rights of all other vulnerable groupings. We are motivated by love for the working class which is why we will always advance Socialism as the solution to end all forms of discrimination and all human suffering.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues
Issued by Irvin Jim, NUMSA General Secretary, 17 June 2023
