UN Backs Gay Rights (first time ever)

(sorry if five more of these OPs are posted as I copy and paste) :)


UN group backs gay rights for the 1st time ever
Comments 0
June 17, 2011 12:45 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GENEVA — The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever Friday, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by African and Islamic countries.

The declaration was cautiously worded, expressing "grave concern" about abuses suffered by people because of their sexual orientation, and commissioning a global report on discrimination of gays. But activists called it a remarkable shift on an issue that has divided the global body for decades, and credited the Obama administration's push for gay rights at home and abroad with helping win support for the resolution.

"This represents a historic moment to highlight the human rights abuses and violations that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face around the world based solely on who they are and whom they love," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a statement.

Following tense negotiations, members of the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council narrowly voted in favor of the declaration put forward by South Africa, with 23 votes in favor and 19 against.



http://www.gazette.com/articles/rights-120021-backs-time.html

:shrug:

It's basically the equivalent of a non-binding resolution from the US Congress. It's highly visible, but it has no enforceable portions.

Because many parts of the world still see LGBT individuals as worthy of death or prison. Looking at all the objections to this resolution, we can see all the global work that has yet to be done. So this is a victory.

Symbolic, yes. But the UN is a mighty big microphone, and every little bit helps.

I figured this must be a very positive thing, even if symbolic at first.

:)

K&R

thanks for posting it

The number in parentheses indicates the year the country will leave the council. Countries in italics represent my best guess, as I haven't seen an actual list, just bits and pieces from other reports, and bold represents "done deals."

SUPPORTS THE RIGHTS OF GLBT PEOPLE!!!!! (23)
Argentina (11)
Brazil (11)
France (11)
United States of America (12)
Chile (11)
Japan (11)
United Kingdom (11)
Norway (12)
Belgium (12)
Republic of Korea (11)
Mexico (12)
Ecuador (13)
Guatemala (13)
Spain (13)
Switzerland (13)
Uruguay (12)
Hungary (12)
Slovakia (11)
Ukraine (11)
Cuba (12)
Republic of Moldova (13)
Thailand (13)
Poland (13)


ANTI-GAY (19)
Pakistan (11)
Russian Federation (12)
Saudi Arabia (12)
Nigeria (12)
Bahrain (11)
Gabon (11)
Ghana (11)
Qatar (13)
Uganda (13)
Jordan (12)
Angola (13)
Djibouti (12)
Cameroon (12)
Senegal (12)
Malaysia (13)
Bangladesh (12)
Maldives (13)
Mauritania (13)
Mauritius (12)


ABSTAINED (3)
Burkina Faso (11)
China (12)
Zambia (11)

DIDN'T VOTE (1)
Kyrgyzstan (12)

NO VOTE (suspended) (1)
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (13)

As indicated, some of the guesses may be incorrect, but we should know in the next day or so.