Uganda dismisses Obama pressure on anti-gay law

On Tuesday, Uganda dismissed Obama's call made towards Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's leader, to not sign an anti-homosexuality law, claiming that the United States was trying to blackmail their country. Obama warned that signing for this bill would complicate America's relations with Uganda and be a "step backward for all Ugandans." This anti-gay bill was first introduced in 2009 and initially proposed a death sentence but it was removed amid international pressure.
According to Frank Mugisha, a Ugandan activist, ever since the bill was passed by the parliament, "Ugandan society has become more hostile towards LGBT persons." Many Ugandans think the bill is already a law and people are already reporting homosexuals.
Homophobia runs deep in Uganda and in many other African countries. Homosexuality is illegal in 37 of Africa's nations and very few Africans will dare to live their sexuality openly in fear of the consequences of life imprisonment, violence, and losing their jobs. Gambia's president, Yahya Jammeh, says his government would fight homosexuals like malaria-causing mosquitoes. That's pretty harsh. Learn more about it here, here, and here.