Ugandan Court Enjoins Tabloid From Outing Gays

In Jacquelin v. Rolling Stone Ltd., (Uganda H.C., Dec. 30, 2010), a Ugandan trial court awarded monetary damages to three plaintiffs who were among those exposed by the tabloid Rolling Stone as gay. The paper (no connection to the US publication of the same name) called for gays they named to be hanged  because "they are after our kids." The court held that the tabloid had violated the plaintiffs' constitutionally protected right to privacy and their right to human dignity and protection from inhuman treatment. The court also issued an injunction restraining the tabloid from further publishing the names or identifying the homes of homosexuals. Human Rights First and AOL News report on the decision and the reactions of those on both sides of the controversy.  Rolling Stone editor Giles Muhame says he will defy the court order and publish more names this week end. He also says he plans to appeal the decision.