REVERSING BUSH DECISION, U.S. TO SIGN U.N. GAY RIGHTS DECLARATION

COMMENTARY ARCHIVES, 19 Mar 2009

Alex Koppelman

The Obama administration has decided to sign on to a United Nations declaration that calls for countries around the world to decriminalize homosexuality, the Associated Press reports. Last year, under then-President Bush, the U.S. became the only Western government that refused to endorse the document.

Though the declaration is non-binding, American negotiators had raised legal objections to it and said they needed to conduct a further review. At the time, the AP said that "U.S. officials expressed concern in private talks that some parts of the declaration might be problematic in committing the federal government on matters that fall under state jurisdiction. In numerous states, landlords and private employers are allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; on the federal level, gays are not allowed to serve openly in the military."

The decision will make the U.S. the 67th country to sign on to the declaration. More than 50 countries, including the Vatican and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, oppose it.

GO TO ORIGINAL – SALON.COM

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Comments are closed.