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World Scout Movement Acts on Uganda ‘Anti Gay’ Bill Threat

 Geneva HQ refers concerns to scout movement in Uganda

LONDON, February 17, 2010  –  The World Scout headquarters has written to the Chief Scout and the Chief Commission of the Uganda Scout Association about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and the sponsorship of the Bill by the Chairman of the Uganda Scout Board, David Bahati MP, Peter Tatchell of OutRage! revealed late last night.

“This swift response came just hours after protests against Mr Bahati to the Scout Association UK by OutRage!, the London-based LGBT human rights group.

“OutRage! is urging the disaffiliation of the Ugandan scout organisation from the world scouting movement, as a way of adding further pressure on the Ugandan government to drop the Bill,” Mr. Tatchell said.

“Our request for disaffiliation was immediately forwarded by the Scout Association UK to the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in Geneva.

“OutRage!’s actions are an attempt to open up a new front in the campaign against the Bill and to graphically expose the ramification’s of the proposed legislation on youth and civic organisations in Uganda, which has received little coverage so far.”

Mr. Tatchell emphasised that by highlighting the particular threat to LGBT scout members, “we have not intended to detract in any way from the wider issues and consequences of Mr Bahati’s draconian legislation”.

“LGBT scouts and scout leaders are, of course, only one section of the Ugandan LGBT community.

“All Ugandan LGBTs are at risk if this Bill becomes law.  We are concerned about the danger to them all – and the threat to their straight families, friends, supporters and allies,” said Mr Tatchell.

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