Obama administration will reverse Bush’s stance on LGBT rights at UN

In December the Bush administration would not endorse a United Nations declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.

This made the United States the only western country to not endorse the resolution. The 13 point resolution was created “to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention.”

On Tuesday officials from the Obama administration notified France, the country that spearheaded the declaration, that the U.S. wanted to be added as supporters of the declaration.

According to the Associated Press officials officials had this to say about the decision

“The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world,” said one official.

“As such, we join with the other supporters of this statement and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora,” the official said.

The official added that the United States was concerned about “violence and human rights abuses against gay, lesbian, transsexual and bisexual individuals” and was also “troubled by the criminalization of sexual orientation in many countries.”

“In the words of the United States Supreme Court, the right to be free from criminalization on the basis of sexual orientation ‘has been accepted as an integral part of human freedom’,” the official said.

The Bush administration decided not to endorse the declaration for fear that it would conflict with laws we have here. They were afraid it would stop employers from being able to discriminate against gays in states where there are not protections for sexual orientation in place. Also, things on a federal level could be in trouble, like Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

In December, 66 out of 192 member countries supported the declaration. However, 70 U.N. members still outlaw homosexuality and in some of those countries acts of homosexuality can be punished by death.

Some Islamic countries said at the time that protecting sexual orientation could lead to “the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts” such as pedophilia and incest. The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican.

This is another example of President Obama’s commitment to the LGBT community and a sign that is we are able to put pro-LGBT legislation on his desk he will sign it. Unlike the last eight years there is hope for the LGBT community that a friend is in the White House.