Rice: Protecting gays most difficult rights issue
Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) With anti-gay laws taking root in nearly 80 countries, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Tuesday that protecting gays from global discrimination, abuse and even death is the most challenging international human rights issue facing the United States.
Rice told a White House forum of gay rights advocates that President Barack Obama has directed that U.S. diplomacy and financial aid promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender men and women around the world. She urged religious, human rights and HIV health care advocates to form a united front to halt global discrimination against the LGBT community.
To achieve lasting global change, we need everyones shoulder at the wheel, she said. With more voices to enrich and amplify the message that gay rights are straight-up human rights we can open more minds.
Rice cautioned that the effort is difficult because laws limiting gay rights in some countries enjoy strong popular support. But she said cultural differences do not excuse human rights violations.
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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/06/24/rice_protecting_gays_most_difficult_rights_issue/