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Anti-Gay UN Assembly President: An Unnecessary Obstacle
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/evelyn-leopold/anti-gay-un-assembly-pres_b_5524086.htmlAnti-Gay UN Assembly President: An Unnecessary Obstacle
Evelyn Leopold
Posted: 06/23/2014
Whatever attributes Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa may have, his election to the presidency of the 193-member UN General Assembly is overshadowed by his country's draconian legislation used to hunt down, isolate and jail homosexuals.
By extension, the world body is besmirched despite statements in favor of gay rights by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN Human Rights Council.
One envoy said this week that many would be watching resolutions in the General Assembly through the lens of gay rights. But the selection of Kutesa also showed the long road ahead for liberal nations and the gay community in convincing the world about the rights of homosexuals.
Sam Kahamba Kutesa was elected by acclamation without a vote on June 11 after being nominated by the African group of nations, a U.N. caucus whose turn it was to choose the Assembly president to succeed John W. Ashe, the ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda. Kutesa takes office on September 14.... MORE at link posted above
