Thursday, February 26, 2009

Obama Reverses U.S. Position on LGBT Issues at the UN



You may have missed this bit of obnoxious gay-bashing by then-president Bush.

In late December, 2008 the United Nations General Assembly held a symbolic vote on a statement calling for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. France spearheaded the resolution, which was a 13 point declaration "to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention."

The statement received 60 votes in support, mostly from Europe and South America. Opposing the resolution, were the United States, the Holy See, and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. At the time, the Bush administration couched its objection to the measure in legal technicalities.

Read more with detailed links here.

Earlier this month the Obama administration reversed that position and the United States of America now stands in favor of such a resolution.

The efforts to include language on discrimination based on sexual orientation ended up failing for lack of support from non-western countries. But at least we are on the side of equality for all - for a change!

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