USA (finally) says yes to decriminalization

NoH8
NoH8 Member Posts: 2,726
edited June 2014 in LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer

This is exciting news. I can't believe as a country we didn't sign that before. Signing the declaration seemed like such a no brainer. Even for people who don't support gay rights, I would think even the religious right/wrong like Bush would think killing people for being lgbt or even jailing them was wrong.

USA will now sign UN gay rights declaration

The Obama administration will sign a United Nations declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality - which previous President George W. Bush refused to endorse just a few months ago.

White House officials have told the Associated Press that they have notified the French sponsors of the declaration to tell them of the United States' support.

66 nations at the UN General Assembly supported the groundbreaking statement last December, which confirms for the first time that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. It also condemns the imprisonment, torture or execution of homosexuals which currently occurs in 77 nations.

New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom were among the countries that supported the statement, which was noisily rejected by several Arab nations, and by The Vatican. China and Russia also did not sign the document.

Meanwhile, President Obama's administration is also understood to be in the process of overturning the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy, thus allowing openly LGBT Americans to serve in the military.

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  • sccruiser
    sccruiser Member Posts: 1,119
    edited March 2009

    Well, it's about time! This president will certainly bring us into the 21st century, with dignity and respect for every person in the USA and in the world! I respect him so much, and I'm glad he wants to improve our reputation as a benevolent and non-violent country in this world.

    I am glad he is overturning the "don't ask, don't tell" policy; and that gays will be able to enlist in the military if that is their objective. There are "perks" that come with enlistment and service in the military and even more benefits if serving as an officer for 20+ years. This is another step forward to that will afford the same rights to gays that heterosexuals have had for years. Another step forward to equity!! All individuals in this country should be allowed to fulfill their dreams and plans, and not be stopped by some rule that denies them an opportunity to achieve that is available to others.

    I'm glad to see our country making "freedom of choice" available to every one of us, no matter what our religious, gender, race, sexual preference, etc. I believe it is what our forefathers would have agreed upon the same.

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