UN group backs gay rights for the 1st time ever

[jaxx]

UN group backs gay rights for the 1st time ever

June 17, 2011 12:45 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GENEVA — The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by African and Islamic countries.

The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing "grave concern" about abuses suffered by people because of their sexual orientation, and commissioning a global report on discrimination of gays. But activists called it a remarkable shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and credited the Obama administration's push for gay rights at home and abroad with helping win support for the resolution.

"This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement.

Following tense negotiations, members of the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council narrowly voted in favor of the declaration put forward by South Africa, with 23 votes in favor and 19 against.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/rights-1...-time.html

The world is waking up to equality. What a great day!!

[Cha]

This is some welcome good news in a sea of depression..thank you, jaxx~

[nofurylike]

this is wonderful news!!
thank you so much for posting it, jaxx!

"The world is waking up to equality. What a great day!!" indeed!

[atomic]

Susan Rice has been a passionate advocate on this on behalf of the Obama Admin.

[nofurylike]

excellent!!
thank you so much for posting that, jaxx!