United Nations: U.S. Aligned With Iran in Anti-Gay Vote

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HRW/d765b4038d44bd4ef1a0c8d2fb6a79fe.htm

United Nations: U.S. Aligned With Iran in Anti-Gay Vote

(Washington, D.C., January 25, 2006) - In a reversal of policy, the United States on Monday backed an Iranian initiative to deny United Nations consultative status to organizations working to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, a coalition of 39 organizations, led by the Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called for an explanation of the vote which aligned the United States with governments that have long repressed the rights of sexual minorities. "This vote is an aggressive assault by the U.S. government on the right of sexual minorities to be heard," said Scott Long, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. "It is astonishing that the Bush administration would align itself with Sudan, China, Iran and Zimbabwe in a coalition of the homophobic."

In May 2005, the International Lesbian and Gay Association, which is based in Brussels, and the Danish gay rights group Landsforeningen for Bøsser og Lesbiske (LBL) applied for consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Consultative status is the only official means by which non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world can influence and participate in discussions among member states at the United Nations. Nearly 3,000 groups enjoy this status.

States opposed to the two groups' applications moved to have them summarily dismissed, an almost unprecedented move at the UN, where organizations are ordinarily allowed to state their cases. The U.S. abstained on a vote which would have allowed the debate to continue and the groups to be heard. It then voted to reject the applications.

"The United States recklessly ignored its own reporting proving the need for international support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "The State Department's 'Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' show severe human rights violations based on gender identity and sexual orientation occur around the world."

[Democat]

1. Gay groups should run advertising all over the U.S. with this

Bush is supporting Iran and making America look stupid.

[xchrom]

2. man -- whatever works.

i could get on board with that.

[lostnfound]

9. United by Hate!! Yeah, there's a message. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Nothing like hate to bring people together.

:eyes:

[IndianaGreen]

4. Russia and Cuba voted for this travesty as well!

China too!

[Redbear]

5. That is deplorable.

Just when you think they cant go any lower.

[bemildred]

6. At last! Common ground! nt

[LiberalGuy000]

7. Incredible

But what a shame that most Americans probably would just shrug at this news...

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Say what??? I am speechless here. Nuts, we are governed by nuts. nt

[samhsarah]

10. sick bastards

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[HuffleClaw]

11. sickening

'BUSH SUPPORTS IRAN' should be the headlines!

[LiberalGuy000]

12. From The Advocate

Just want to keep this discussion alive. I'm still outraged.

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid24797.asp

Gay groups rejected by United Nations

The United States has voted against allowing two gay rights organizations to join the United Nations Economic and Social Council, angering the groups and other gay rights leaders. According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the United States joined the "repressive, antigay regimes" of Iran, Zimbabwe, China, Cameroon, and others in voting against even granting a hearing to the applications of the International Lesbian and Gay Association and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians. The two groups' applications were summarily dismissed.

"It is an absolute outrage that the United States has chosen to align itself with tyrants—all in a sickening effort to smother the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people around the world," said Matt Foreman, executive director of NGLTF. "Apparently Iran, which President Bush has deemed part of the 'Axis of Evil,' is a suitable partner when it comes to discriminating against gay people."