A month ago Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a harsh anti-gay bill that made homosexuality a crime punishable by life in prison. Even though the Obama administration sharply criticized the law, it is sending additional military aircraft to the country to help Museveni capture rebel commander Joseph Koni. The administration is sending a mixed message, and one that is not easily solved. On the one hand, Koni is the leader of a guerrilla group that wants to topple the current government in the African country. On the other hand, the current government just made being gay a crime, causing the White House to review America's relationship with Uganda. As Jennifer Cooke with the Center for Strategic and International Studies recently told the New York Times, "The tension between security and human rights is going to dog all of our foreign policy interests, but we should ask: How important is this security relationship? Because Museveni has not been a consistent force for stability in the region."
The U.S. is cutting funds to organizations in Uganda that backed the anti-homosexuality law, including the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda. But the council won't see its funding cut entirely. The Times noted that it will still receive $2.3 million for treating HIV/AIDS patients; but another $6.4 million that was intended for the organization will be given to other non-governmental groups in Uganda, according to a White House official. The new law also potentially threatens the safety of LGBT tourists in Uganda and the liberty of those who show support for Uganda's LGBT community, National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden told the paper. As a result, about $3 million in U.S. funds designated for eco-tourism will be redirected to non-governmental groups.
What's clear from this muddled mess is that the situation in Uganda is not good for LGBT people and yet President Barack Obama has chosen a strategy of careful trade-offs. We understand the reality of trying to stop Koni, a rebel whose fighters are believed to have slaughtered thousands of villagers in Uganda and neighboring countries, but we believe a more forceful response is needed from the U.S. concerning the anti-gay law. This is definitely not about boycotts or sanctions �" neither of which had an impact on Russian President Vladimir Putin after he signed the anti-gay propaganda law in his country �" but if the U.S. is going to use a carrot-and-stick approach, we advocate for robust diplomacy that helps LGBTs in Uganda.
For starters, the State Department should ramp up efforts to help Ugandan LGBTs who want to leave the country. It's not easy getting out of Africa, but when newspapers are outing gays on their covers and people are living in fear of being killed, intervention is needed.
The State Department should be working more closely with nonprofit advocacy groups in the U.S. that can accept refugees or those seeking asylum. Currently there are too few agencies and too much demand. Many LGBT community members in the Bay Area want to help but there is little organization among fundraising groups and no easy way to donate.
The Huffington Post reported last week that Secretary of State John Kerry plans to send experts on LGBT issues to Uganda and Museveni has committed to meeting them. We hope he keeps his word. Kerry, making the announcement at a university speech, said it was an example of the "tailored approach" to the State Department's developing strategy on international anti-LGBT legislation, the website reported.
We'll see how this approach works. Perhaps it will result in a better understanding of LGBTs. While we advocated for a possible reduction in foreign aid to Uganda several years ago when the anti-homosexuality bill first made headlines, it's apparent that the cost of such an action is too great, especially for people living with HIV/AIDS. A case-by-case review of anti-gay laws may be the best solution, but if learning more about LGBTs doesn't result in repeal of some of these laws, the administration will have to take a harder line.