Rep. Santos files bill to prohibit U.S. aid to anti-LGBT countries
Following Uganda’s passage of an “anti-homosexuality” bill, New York Representative George Santos, the first openly gay non-incumbent Republican to be elected in the House, introduced a bill Friday that would prohibit federal aid from going to countries that discriminate against women or criminalize LGBTQ people.
The Equality and Fiscal Accountability Protection Act of 2023, introduced on Friday, would require the State Department to evaluate a country’s human rights record before providing federal aid. If a country is found to be violating the rights of LGBTQ individuals or women, they would not be eligible for federal aid.
Santos stated in a press release that discrimination against women and the LGBTQ community is unacceptable and that the United States has a responsibility to defend the human rights of all people, regardless of their race, religion, or sexual orientation.
“My bill will send a clear message that the United States will not offer federal aid to countries found to be violating the rights of individuals based on sexual orientation,” Santos stated.
This initiative comes as countries such as Brunei and Uganda, among others, have passed laws that criminalize LGBTQ people, prompting international criticism.
Santos introduced the bill following the passage of a bill in Uganda to outlaw homosexual activity in the country, prescribing jail terms of up to 10 years for individuals who engage in same-sex relations and life imprisonment for “repeat offenders.”
President Yoweri Museveni has expressed support for the bill. In a recent speech, Museveni accused Western countries of attempting to impose their practices on others.
The bill also creates offenses such as “attempted homosexuality” and “aggravated homosexuality,” with the latter applying to sexual relations among HIV-positive individuals, minors, and other groups. The punishment for “aggravated homosexuality” is currently unclear.
According to the U.S. State Department’s website, the United States provides significant health and development assistance to Uganda, with a total assistance budget exceeding $950 million per year.
