US President Barack Obama today condemned the proposed anti-gay law in Uganda, at the annual National Prayer Breakfast, held in Washington, stating that it was “odious”. And rightly so. The law calls for the death penalty for those who partake in homosexual activities, can be jailed for 7 years, whilst those involved in ‘aggravated’ homosexual activity can be sentenced to death. It’s the 21st Century. Shouldn’t the human race have progressed further than this?

The 2009 Bill, proposed that “This legislation further recognizes the fact that same sex attraction is not an innate and immutable characteristic.” Firstly, there is much research and evidence to prove otherwise. Furthermore, even if homosexuality was a ‘choice’, do heterosexuals not ‘choose’ their partners also?

And even more disturbing, similar legislation was proposed and consequently passed in Rwanda, Nigeria and Burundi. Worse still, about two thirds of African countries have laws which criminalise ‘homosexual acts’. Not only is it a large leap backwards for Africa, it’s also the same for humanity. Countries around the world are just starting to legalise gay marriage, including African nations such as South Africa, but it seems the outlawing of homosexuality in other nations is counteracting the progression of what should be basic human rights.

Discrimination against homosexuals is no different from discriminating against race or gender for that matter. It’s time these governments take a good hard look at themselves and realise that basic human rights are not a luxury. It is something that everyone is entitled to.