Florida Senate - 2010                            (NP)    SR 2382
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       31-01897A-10                                          20102382__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution condemning any law, rule, or policy that
    3         punishes any person based on sexual orientation or
    4         HIV/AIDS status.
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, a bill introduced on October 14, 2009, by a member
    7  of Parliament in Uganda would expand penalties for homosexuality
    8  to include the death penalty and requires citizens of Uganda to
    9  report information about homosexuality to the police or face
   10  imprisonment, and
   11         WHEREAS, many countries criminalize homosexuality, and in
   12  some countries, such as Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan,
   13  the penalty for homosexuality includes the death penalty, and
   14         WHEREAS, the United States, in seeking to promote the core
   15  American principles of equality and “Life, Liberty, and the
   16  pursuit of Happiness,” has long championed the universality of
   17  human rights, and
   18         WHEREAS, religious leaders in the United States, along with
   19  representatives from the Vatican and the Anglican Church, have
   20  stated that laws criminalizing homosexuality are unjust, and
   21         WHEREAS, the people and Government of the United States
   22  recognize that such laws undermine this country’s commitment in
   23  globally combating the human immunodeficiency virus infection or
   24  acquired immune deficiency syndrome by stigmatizing and
   25  criminalizing vulnerable communities, and
   26         WHEREAS, no human being should be punished or targeted for
   27  assault, intimidation, or harassment of any kind based on sexual
   28  orientation, gender identity, or having the human
   29  immunodeficiency virus infection or the acquired immune
   30  deficiency syndrome, NOW, THEREFORE,
   31  
   32  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   33  
   34         That the Florida Senate condemns any legislation, law,
   35  rule, or policy that calls for the punishment, including, but
   36  not limited to, life imprisonment or the death sentence, of any
   37  human being who is, or is perceived to be, homosexual, bisexual,
   38  or transgender, or who has acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
   39  the antibody or antigen to human immunodeficiency virus, or the
   40  human immunodeficiency virus infection.
   41         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be
   42  forwarded to the President of the United States, the President
   43  of the Senate of the United States, and the Speaker of the House
   44  of Representatives of the United States, and the Ugandan
   45  Parliament.