The death penalty as Genocide: The persecution of "Homosexuals" in Uganda

Abstract

From 2009 to 2012, the Ugandan government attempted to pass legislation mandating the death penalty as punishment for "homosexuality." Typically, the wholesale execution of a group of people is considered to be genocide, but sexual orientation is not a protected group as specified in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was signed into law immediately following World War II. Increased violence against "homosexuals" and the murder of an outspoken gay activist in Uganda indicate a growing public hatred of gays and lesbians, which mirrors events from genocides. In this paper we review events in Uganda and relate them to other genocidal incidents to determine whether the treatment of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals constitutes genocide, based on findings from social science research, if not legally. Recommendations are made regarding the current definition of genocide used by the international community.