International Gay Rights Group, Opposed By GOPers, Wins UN Status

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission today won accreditation from the United Nations despite Republican efforts to defeat the group's application.

As we told you last week, Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) wrote a letter to the other countries who sit on the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council -- countries including anti-gay strongholds like Egypt and Saudi Arabia -- urging them to vote against the New York-based group's application.

Their effort failed, and the resolution passed 23 to 13, with 13 abstaining.

"Today's decision, we think, is an affirmation that the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have a voice in the UN," said Sara Perle, a spokeswoman for IGLHRC. "It's a clear message from that diverse voices cannot be silenced."

Two Republican congressmen are urging other countries -- including, potentially, some where homosexuality is a crime punishable by death -- to vote against an American-led effort in the U.N. to recognize a respected international gay rights group.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has been trying since May 2007 to win accreditation from the United Nations, which would allow the NGO to have a voice at the international body. But the group's application for "consultative status" had been deferred by the status-granting NGO committee until early last month, when the committee voted to block its application.

Among the countries voting against the application: Egypt, Angola, Burundi, China, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia and Sudan. In all those countries but Russia and China, LGBT people can be jailed, fined, whipped or killed if they are caught by authorities.

The committee, which has a history of voting against gay rights organizations, makes its recommendations to the Economic and Social Council, which makes the final decision on consultative status.

US pushing UN status for gay rights group
By EDITH M. LEDERER (AP) – 3 days ago

UNITED NATIONS — The Obama administration and 14 members of the U.S. Congress are urging the U.N. Economic and Social Council to accredit the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission so it can work at the United Nations.

The U.S.-based organization, which has offices in South Africa, Argentina and the Philippines, has been trying since 2007 to get consultative status with the council, which serves as the main U.N. forum for discussing international economic and social issues.

The organization, the U.S. government and the members of Congress believe the group's application has not been approved because it promotes gay rights.
....

In a letter to ECOSOC, the members of Congress said last month's decision by the committee that accredits non-governmental organizations to take "no action" on the gay rights group's application was aimed at preventing the full ECOSOC from making a decision.

The 14 Democratic lawmakers said the "no action" motion, as well as questions and statements by some member states, indicated that the commission's application was not approved because of its focus "on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."