U.S. to Sign U.N. Gay Rights Declaration!

Back in December of 2008 the first ever declaration at the United Nations called for an immediate end to imprisonment and execution for people based on sexual orientation. The resolution passed without approval by the United States.

"The Obama administration will endorse a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality that then-President George W. Bush had refused to sign, The Associated Press has learned". (MSNBC)

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.

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.

Catholic Church Against Making Gay Death Penalty Illegal

The Catholic Church a body that has been staunchly opposed to the death penalty does not want to include international protections by the United Nations for gay people who face death penalty charges in countries where homosexuality is illegal. The Vatican is voicing opposition and plan to go against the French proposal that is introducing this piece of human rights resolution.

"This week the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations, said the Holy See would oppose a resolution that would protect gays from being killed, just because they are gay because it would "add new categories of those protected from discrimination" and could lead to reverse discrimination against traditional heterosexual marriage.

The French resolution, scheduled to be proposed this week, recommends protecting Gays and Lesbians from being jailed or killed because of their sexual orientation and is being introduced to the UN on behalf of the European Union.

But Archbishop Celestino Migliore said, if adopted, the resolution would create “new and implacable discriminations," and also said that states which do not recognize same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an objects of pressure.

However, the French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, says absolutely nothing about gay marriage; it is about ending jail and death penalty sentences gays yet face in more than 85 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen where you can still be killed for being gay."(LGR)

This is so disgusting and hypocritical of the Church. They are against the death penalty but don't want to be on the record opposing it for gays and lesbians?

Permanent Observer Mission of the
Holy See to the United Nations

25 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016-0903

Tel: (212) 370-7885
Fax: (212) 370-9622

TAKE ACTION: Urge United Nations to Support Worldwide LGBT Rights

"People around the world face violence and inequality – and sometimes torture, even execution – because of who they love, how they look, or who they are. Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of our selves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. More than 80 countries around the world still make it a crime for men to have sex with men, or women with women. In some countries, the punishment is death. Many laws punish people for simply looking differently, or not living up to cultural norms of “masculinity” or “femininity.

The Yogyakarta Principles – named for the Indonesian city where they were adopted in 2006 by a panel of international experts – lay out clear standards for how governments should end violence, abuse, and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and ensure equality. We urge the United Nations to endorse the Yogyakarta Principles, and to call for an end to violence and abuse based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Tell the world’s governments to stop criminalizing people because of who they are or whom they love."

Click here to Contact the Secretary-General: Mr. Ban Ki-Moon of the U.N.