U.S. introduces U.N. resolution supporting LGBT rights -December 11th, 2010

U.S. introduces U.N. resolution supporting LGBT rights

SDGLN Staff

December 11th, 2010

NEW YORK – Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Friday introduced an amendment in the General Assembly to prohibit the violent targeting of people because of their sexual orientation.

The move comes on the heels of last month’s amendment at the General Assembly’s Third Committee on Extrajudicial, Summary, and Arbitrary Executions, which eliminated sexual orientation from a resolution condemning the extrajudicial killing of vulnerable people around the world.

That resolution was largely supported by African and Middle Eastern countries with spotty records on human rights. The coalition of conservative states mustered enough votes to delete “sexual orientation” from being included on a list of 15 groups that are particularly vulnerable to extrajudicial killings. “Sexual orientation” typically would be included among groups such as refugees, religious minorities and indigenous people.

Rice’s timing was symbolic as well, since Friday was Human Rights Day. She made the announcement during a speech at an LGBT event for Human Rights Day at the U.N. Economic and Social Council’s chamber.

“Around the world, laws that criminalize gay relationships don’t just violate human rights. They hinder social cohesion, economic development, and public health. They reduce trust and cooperation among nations,” Rice said in her speech.

“So the United States will work together with our fellow Core Group members to urge countries that still have such laws to repeal them. And I hope we will all work together to develop a sustained, serious plan of action to decriminalize homosexuality around this world that we share.”