House committee approves measure to cut aid to ‘anti-gay’ countries
Image by Getty Images via @daylife The House Financial Services Committee has approved a measure that recommends cuts in foreign aid to countries based on their opposition to homosexual activity , which opposition the measure calls a “gross [violation] of human rights.” The amendment was offered by Rep. Barney Frank , who is openly homosexual, as part of a measure outlining certain budget priorities for FY2012. The amendment was approved by voice vote before the committee passed the resolution 29-24 on March 15. The amendment reads: “The Committee urges Treasury to advocate that governments receiving assistance from the multilateral development institutions do not engage in gross violations of human rights , for example, the denial of freedom of religion , including the right to choose one’s own religion, and physical persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity .” Frank reportedly singled out Uganda as a country that should be shunned for “engag[ing] in the phy