The Obama administration formally endorsed a U.N. statement calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W. Bush, had refused to sign.
The Obama administration reversed yet another Bush-era decision that had long been criticized as being discriminatory by human rights groups. The United States was the only western nation that didn't sign on to the declaration, when it came up at the U.N. General Assembly in December.
"The United States supports the U.N.'s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.
"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood told reporters.
"As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora."
The Associated Press reported that the administration would endorse the statement.
"The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world," Wood told reporters.
"As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora."
The Associated Press reported that the administration would endorse the statement.
"The administration's leadership on this issue will be a powerful rebuke of an earlier Bush administration position that sought to deny the universal application of human rights protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals," said Mark Bromley of the Council for Global Equality, which promotes equal rights for same-sex loving individuals.
"This is long past overdue and we are encouraged by the signal it sends that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will now be considered human rights," said Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"This is long past overdue and we are encouraged by the signal it sends that the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people will now be considered human rights," said Rea Carey, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
U.S. officials stated that America, opposed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation but that parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review. There were concerns from the Bush team that those sections could commit the federal government on matters that fall under state jurisdiction.
In some states landlords and private employers, are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military.
In some states landlords and private employers, are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military.
Twenty-seven European Union members, Japan, Australia, and Mexico, all endorsed the U.S. gay rights message. Seventy U.N. members outlaw homosexuality as homosexual acts can be punished by execution also.
And more than fifty nations including members of the 'Organization of the Islamic Conference' opposed the declaration. Some Islamic countries stated that protecting sexual orientation could lead to "the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and incest. The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican.
And more than fifty nations including members of the 'Organization of the Islamic Conference' opposed the declaration. Some Islamic countries stated that protecting sexual orientation could lead to "the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and incest. The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican.
How does one compare same-sex relationships to pedophilia and incest? Pedophilia is when an adult has sexual desires for a child. Incest is when closely related people (family members) have sexual intercourse, which is also called "inbreeding."
People's assumptions and personal analogies are downright ridiculous. Pedophiles are allowed to run churches, work in schools, and live next door to us. Incest takes place everyday, and yet no one petitions charges against those that do it.
How can two same-sex loving individuals receive a worse rap than those that violate children? I'll never understand it.
2009 LA
