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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sat Jun 28, 2014, 05:56 AM Jun 2014

US TAKES GAY RIGHTS GLOBAL, DESPITE UNSURE WELCOME

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GLOBAL_GAY_RIGHTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-06-28-04-43-21


Participants of the Christopher Street Day parade through Berlin, Saturday June 21, 2014, with a float depicting the Statue of Liberty. The Obama administration has taken the U.S. gay rights revolution global, using American embassies across the world as outposts in a struggle that still hasn’t been won at home. Sometimes U.S. advice and encouragement is condemned as unacceptable meddling. And sometimes it can seem to backfire, increasing the pressure on those it is meant to help.(AP Photo/dpa, Joerg Carstensen) GERMANY OUT AUSTRIA OUT SWITZERLAND OUT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- President Barack Obama's administration has taken the U.S. gay rights revolution global, using American embassies across the world as outposts in a struggle that still hasn't been won at home.

Sometimes U.S. advice and encouragement is condemned as unacceptable meddling. And sometimes it can seem to backfire, increasing the pressure on those it is meant to help.

With gay pride parades taking place in many cities across the world this weekend, the U.S. role will be more visible than ever. Diplomats will take part in parades and some embassies will fly the rainbow flag along with the Stars and Stripes.

The United States sent five openly gay ambassadors abroad last year, with a sixth nominee, to Vietnam, now awaiting Senate confirmation. American diplomats are working to support gay rights in countries such as Poland, where prejudice remains deep, and to oppose violence and other abuse in countries like Nigeria and Russia, where gays face life-threatening risks.
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