USA Fails to Back U.N. Declaration on Decriminalization of Homosexuality

In the fury over the Rick Warren selection by Obama, another huge slight to LGBT Americans has occurred as a parting shot from the Chimperator's failed regime: The USA has failed to support the United Nations declaration introduced by France that would call for the decriminalization of homosexuality. The Chimperator may condemn Iran, but by refusing to back this declaration, Bush/Cheney are implicitly endorsing the torture and execution of gays in Iran and other extremist nations. Here are highlights from the Associated Press:

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Alone among major Western nations, the United States has refused to sign a declaration presented Thursday at the United Nations calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality. In all, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration — which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with any-gay discrimination. More than 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality, and in several of them homosexual acts can be punished by execution.

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"It's disappointing," said Rama Yade, France's human rights minister, of the U.S. position — which she described as in contradiction with America's long tradition as a defender of human rights. . . . Gay rights activists nonetheless were angered by the U.S. position. "It's an appalling stance — to not join with other countries that are standing up and calling for decriminalization of homosexuality," said Paula Ettelbrick, executive director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. She expressed hope that the U.S. position might change after President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.

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The European nations backing the declaration waged their campaign in conjunction with the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Dutch foreign affairs minister, Maxime Verhagen, said countries that endorsed that 1948 document had no right to carve out exceptions based on religion or culture that allowed discrimination against gays. "Human rights apply to all people in all places at all times," he said. "I will not accept any excuse."

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I agree with the Dutch minister, but unfortunately, human rights do not equally apply to gays in the USA, certainly not in Virginia, and based on Obama's selection of Rick Warren, I am not holding my breath that Obama will do any of the things he said to bait gays into supporting him.