GAY NEWS
US Signs UN Statement On Gay Rights, Reversing Bush Refusal
By L. K. Regan
Published Mar 19, 2009
Published Mar 19, 2009
In its waning days in December of 2008, the Bush administration refused to sign a United Nations declaration demanding the universal decriminalization of homosexuality the world over. Yesterday, in a key reversal of Bush administration policy, the United States formally endorsed the UN statement, joining all of its western allies in support of a fundamental human rights policy.
The UN statement declares that human rights violations based on homophobia run counter to the organization's universal declaration of human rights. Introduced by France and supported by 66 countries, largely from Europe and Latin America, the measure was met with broad approval when presented to the UN on December 19, 2008. Read aloud by Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina, this was the first gay rights statement read out to the entire General Assembly itself. Still, at the time that the measure was introduced, Rama Yade, the French state secretary for human rights, pointed out that homosexuality was illegal in almost 80 countries, with the penalty of death a possibility in six. The original opponents of the measure were: Russia, China, the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican City is a country), member states of the Islamic Conference—and the United States.
The Bush administration justified its refusal to sign with a statement that, while it supported a human rights agenda, the UN declaration would potentially cause legal problems for the individual states, some of which have laws allowing landlords and employers to discriminate based on sexual orientation. "We are opposed to any discrimination, legally or politically," said Alejandro D. Wolff, the US's deputy permanent representative to the UN at the time, "but the nature of our federal system prevents us from undertaking commitments and engagements where federal authorities don't have jurisdiction." For many, this approach obliquely brought into view the US's struggles over gay marriage, and the laws of many individual states that ban same-sex unions. At the very least, it was viewed in a cynical light by many gay activists. "The administration is trying to come up with Christmas presents for the religious right so it will be remembered," Scott Long, a director at Human Rights Watch, told the New York Times in December.
Well, what a difference a few months makes. "The United States supports the UN's statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of the statement," said state department spokesman Robert Wood to reporters on Wednesday. "The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world. 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." Wood went on that a careful review of the legal situation by the Obama administration had concluded that "supporting this statement commits us to no legal obligations."
The reaction from gay advocacy groups has been immediate. "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, who chairs the Council for Global Equality. LIkewise, Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task force, says that, "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." For many in the gay community, the willingness of the United States to join its allies in the world community on an issue of basic rights is a sign that policy towards the LGBT community within the US may also be ready to change for the better. Not a moment too soon.
The UN statement declares that human rights violations based on homophobia run counter to the organization's universal declaration of human rights. Introduced by France and supported by 66 countries, largely from Europe and Latin America, the measure was met with broad approval when presented to the UN on December 19, 2008. Read aloud by Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina, this was the first gay rights statement read out to the entire General Assembly itself. Still, at the time that the measure was introduced, Rama Yade, the French state secretary for human rights, pointed out that homosexuality was illegal in almost 80 countries, with the penalty of death a possibility in six. The original opponents of the measure were: Russia, China, the Roman Catholic Church (Vatican City is a country), member states of the Islamic Conference—and the United States.
The Bush administration justified its refusal to sign with a statement that, while it supported a human rights agenda, the UN declaration would potentially cause legal problems for the individual states, some of which have laws allowing landlords and employers to discriminate based on sexual orientation. "We are opposed to any discrimination, legally or politically," said Alejandro D. Wolff, the US's deputy permanent representative to the UN at the time, "but the nature of our federal system prevents us from undertaking commitments and engagements where federal authorities don't have jurisdiction." For many, this approach obliquely brought into view the US's struggles over gay marriage, and the laws of many individual states that ban same-sex unions. At the very least, it was viewed in a cynical light by many gay activists. "The administration is trying to come up with Christmas presents for the religious right so it will be remembered," Scott Long, a director at Human Rights Watch, told the New York Times in December.
Well, what a difference a few months makes. "The United States supports the UN's statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of the statement," said state department spokesman Robert Wood to reporters on Wednesday. "The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world. 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." Wood went on that a careful review of the legal situation by the Obama administration had concluded that "supporting this statement commits us to no legal obligations."
The reaction from gay advocacy groups has been immediate. "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, who chairs the Council for Global Equality. LIkewise, Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task force, says that, "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." For many in the gay community, the willingness of the United States to join its allies in the world community on an issue of basic rights is a sign that policy towards the LGBT community within the US may also be ready to change for the better. Not a moment too soon.
gymguy90034 wrote:
i am not trying to start a fight or anything but what are you talkin about prop 8 for? it was an issue put on the ballot, the people voted and that's it. maybe next time something like that comes up on the ballot in ca more gay people will take responsibility and get out and vote. in a democracy the majority wins, and it's clear most of the VOTING Californians arent ready for gay marriage just yet. But hats off the the new pres for making this step.... although he should be careful to not undo too much of President's Bush's policies. Not saying the bush policies are the best, but I will begin to undermind our whole political process and the importance of the office, making us weaker as a country later. I hate to see the muslims take charge of the usa because if and when that happens all gay people are screwed. Please dont think the muslims are not starting to take over now, they are all over the USA plotting and recruiting. okay i am done have a great day all!
Apr 06 9:10 PM
brian_homorazzi wrote:
After the Prop 8 disaster... Welcome welcome news!
Mar 26 2:00 AM
penguin wrote:
That is fantastic news - congrats my USA friends- hope you can join our rights in Canada soon!
Mar 24 3:11 AM
fnxdrgn wrote:
This is great news :) ... From what I understand, it is still up to the individual States of the USA to make their own decision about gay rights. So I doubt anything will change at the local level for now. As for DADT [Don't Ask Don't Tell for anyone who may not have known the abbreviation], yeah.. can't wait for that to change. This looks like a promising step in that direction though.
Mar 23 11:20 PM
mickeytopogigio wrote:
Real change comes from pressure--sustained pressure--from all sides. Now, how about DADT?
Mar 21 8:28 PM
Oceandude11 wrote:
what does this mean for the legalities of the states which still look the other way when it comes to compartmentalized discrimination (ie the landlords, employers)?
Mar 21 12:11 AM
ruck_us wrote:
A-men, Clay. This is great news, though.
Mar 20 6:09 PM
claycellist wrote:
Well, we aren't glad we have him back!!
Mar 20 5:20 PM
Signboy09 wrote:
Hallelujah
Mar 20 2:57 PM
Telejock wrote:
I'm so glad that village in Texas has its idiot back!
Mar 20 12:32 PM
Tapper wrote:
I don't know what to say. Words cannot describe how happy this makes me.
Mar 20 11:24 AM