US demanding gay rights support at UN body

[Born_A_Truman]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will introduce its first statement calling for the United Nations' top human rights body to combat discrimination against gays and lesbians around the world, completing a U.S. reversal from years of ambiguity on the subject during the presidency of George W. Bush.

The U.S. declaration will be made Tuesday at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and has the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of a binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year.

The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance for homosexuality in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.

"We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated."

More at the LINK

[SeattleGirl]

[CTLawGuy]

Where's the media coverage of this????

[Born_A_Truman]

(03-21-2011 09:44 PM)CTLawGuy Wrote:  Where's the media coverage of this????

Good question! I hope tomorrow it receives more attention!

[Cha]

Excellent! Let's hope there's not a regime that comes in the White House that tries to wipe this out.

[jaxx]

I love it that the US is poking the hornet's nest. They are doing more for humanity than we've seen in a long, long time. Let the sputtering begin.