India Decriminalizes Homosexuality

In a long anticipated and major ruling the high court in India has determined that consensual homosexual sex should no longer be against the law. The ruling overturns the previous law known as section 377 which banned gay sex. This historic ruling marks a new chapter in gay rights in the country that is home to over 17% of the world's population.

“Discrimination is antithesis of equality,” the judges of the Delhi High Court wrote in a 105-page decision that is the first in India to directly guarantee rights for gay people. “It is the recognition of equality which will foster dignity of every individual,” the decision said.

The ruling applies only to India’s capital city, but it will force the national government to either appeal the decision to the Supreme Courtor repeal the law nationwide, lawyers said (NY Times).

This ruling brings the total number of countries that criminalize homosexuality down to 84. The punishment for homosexuality varies in countries from prison time, fines, public humiliation, and in many cases the death penalty.

Take a Stand for Human Rights!

Demand The U.S. Stand For Global Decriminalization of Homosexuality

The U.N. is scheduled to bring up a legislative vote on decriminalizing homosexuality worldwide. This bill would make it global law that it is illegal to imprison or execute someone solely based on their sexual orientation. There have been protests and anger directed at the Vatican over their refusal to vote in the affirmative. As of right now the United States of America has not pledged to support the legislation.

It is imperative we quickly act to encourage the U.S. a global world leader to take a stance in favor of decriminalizing homosexuality.

Please contact the following high level individuals and tell them to have U.S. representation in the United Nations vote to make sure imprisonment and the death penalty for homosexuals is illegal.

The US President:

The White House
George W Bush, President
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

Tel: 202 456 1111
Fax: 202 456 2461

Email: president@whitehouse.gov

US Secretary of State

United States Department of State
Secretary of State Dr Condoleeza Rice
2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520

Tel: 202 647 4000 

TTY: 1 800 877 8339

US Ambassador to the United Nations

Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad
Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations
140 East 45th Street
New York, NY 10017

Tel: 212 415 4000

Email: usa@un.int

You can also urge your local senator and congressman as well as President-Elect Barack Obama to speak out on the issue.

The Office of the President-Elect website has a convenient online contact form.

H/T to Mike Tidmus for listing different contacts for action.

Five Vigils Planned Today in Front of Catholic Cathedral's Nationwide

Dignity USA, New Ways Ministry, and Call to Action are holding 5 vigils in different cities across the country to protest the Vatican's position to not support a U.N. resolution to decriminalize homosexuality. The legislation is trying to make it illegal to imprison or execute people based on sexual orientation. The vigils will be held at various Catholic Churches listed below.

Boston, MA

6:30 PM Eastern Time
Holy Cross Cathedral
1400 Washington Street
Boston, MA
Contact Person: Rocco Pigneri, 617-421-1915, dignityinfo@dignityboston.org
Directions: http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/cathedral/directions.html

Dallas, TX

5:30 PM Central Time
Cathedral Guadalupe
2215 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX
Contact Person: Jon Garinn, 214-621-9530, garinns@sbcglobal.net
Directions: http://www.cathedralguadalupe.org/about/directions.cfm

New York, NY

12:30 - 1:30 PM Eastern Time
Fifth Avenue & 51st Street (in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral)
New York, NY
Contact Person: Jeff Stone, 646-418-7039, jefastone@aol.com

San Francisco, CA

5:00 - 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Pink Triangle Memorial Park
Castro & Market (near the northwest corner)
San Francisco, CA
Contact People: Jim McGarry or Kathy Curran, kathycurran@yahoo.com

Seattle, WA

4:45 - 5:30 PM
St. James Cathedral
804 Ninth Avenue
Seattle, WA
Contact Person: Leo N. Egashira, 206-723-4759, legashira@yahoo.com
Directions: http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/Main.htm

Action Needed on UN Declaration Calling for Global Decriminalization of Homosexuality

The declaration to make imprisonment and the death penalty illegal for homosexuality will be put before the UN General Assembly this coming Wednesday, which coincidentally is Human Rights Day and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. While every country in the European Union has signed on and Canada is a sponsor.

The United States of America has not signaled support for the declaration.

Homosexuality is still illegal in 85 countries, and a handful of countries will give imprisonment sentences of life and/or the death penalty.

Please head over to the Mike Tidmus blog for a detailed list of actions we can take, we must act quick.