Ted Cruz calls Uganda’s anti-gay laws ‘horribly wrong’

‘This law in Uganda is horribly wrong,’ said Cruz. tweeted last weeksee “” in Ugandaanti-homosexuality lawrecently signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in 2023. “Laws criminalizing homosexuality and imposing the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ are grotesque and abominable. .

invoice, signed the law On May 26, it will hand out “life imprisonment” to individuals who have committed “crimes of homosexuality.”

The term “aggravated homosexuality” refers to victims who are children, the elderly, disabled, terminally ill, mentally ill, or under the influence of drugs that cause “altered states of consciousness.” Where the perpetrator is a relative of the victim.

Criminals are subject to the “death penalty” if convicted on “aggravated homosexuality” charges.

Uganda’s constitution already has provisions criminalizing homosexual acts and the country is taking multiple steps to take further action strengthen enforcement of those laws.

Ugandan MP Asman Basalilwa said: answered and said In response to the concern and confusion surrounding the practice, “the law defines what constitutes a homosexual act and gives life imprisonment, which means that if convicted, you will spend the rest of your life in prison.” do.”

Basalilwa added, “Some time ago I saw a document from the Deputy Attorney General that this law would create a mandatory death penalty, but that is not true. Because what the law sets is the maximum sentence, the courts We can decide not to impose a maximum sentence.”

Cruz wasn’t the only one to criticize the law. Many other politicians in the United States and other countries voiced against it.

President Joe Biden issued a statement It condemned the act as a “violation of universal human rights”.

“This shameful law is the latest development in a worrying trend of human rights violations and corruption in Uganda,” Biden said in a statement.

Cruz has also participated in online debates surrounding the law, including the Twitter debate that is currently trending online. Florida Pastor Tweets Quoting Leviticus 20:13, which states that homosexuals “will surely be put to death,” he said, “Tell God, Ted.”

Mr Cruz replied his own bible verse, tweeted that Christians “must give back to Caesar what’s Caesar’s, and to God what’s God’s.” He added, “We are talking about human law, not God’s law of the Old Testament.”

Polls show that opinions remain widely divided on the moral acceptance of ‘changing gender’, but suggest Cruz is on the side of the public when it comes to same-sex relationships. . 71 percent of Americans It is generally believed that being gay or lesbian is “morally acceptable”.

Cruz criticized the 2015 Supreme Court ruling. Obergefel v. Hodges Same-sex marriage is protected by the U.S. Constitution, In 2022, “I think that decision was clearly wrong when it was made. It was a court overreach.”

“Obergefel, like Roe v. Wade, ignored two centuries of history in our country. Marriage has always been a matter for the states,” Cruz said.

He also issued a statement Mr. Cruz responded to Mr. Biden’s vote “no” on the “so-called” Respect for Marriage Act, which he signed last year and called on all U.S. states and territories to recognize same-sex marriage, saying Mr. Cruz said, “This is Biden. It will be the stage for Mr. The IRS targets people of faith and specifically denies tax-exempt eligibility for churches, charities, colleges and K-12 schools. ”

“Hundreds of lawsuits will be filed across this country, and underfunded defendants will be forced to settle and break their convictions or shut the door. added.

Mr. Cruz was an avid supporter freedom of religion continues to hold that sentiment in its comments on Ugandan law and in its recent remarks on the Supreme Court’s ruling.