An unprecedented declaration seeking to decriminalize homosexuality won the support of 66 countries in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, but opponents criticized it as an attempt to legitimize pedophilia and other “deplorable acts.” 

The United States refused to support the nonbinding measure, as did Russia, China, the Roman Catholic Church and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Holy See’s observer mission issued a statement saying that the declaration “challenges existing human rights norms.”

The declaration, sponsored by France with broad support in Europe and Latin America, condemned human rights violations based on homophobia, saying such measures run counter to the universal declaration of human rights.

(excerpt from the NYTimes)

I can’t talk about my job, but i can tell you it is painful to have your job’s position in direct conflict of my personal beliefs, and in this case, it’s in direct conflict of my entire being.  I am so upset and angry at our government’s position. The order from our government was to reject it based on technical details.  No matter what reasons our government gives, they are still siding with all the other intolerance regimes in the world instead of all our democratic allies who believe it is a fundamental human rights.   I know this is just a declaration, it’s not even a resolution.  It is non-binding.  But if the world’s most powerful country actually sign it, it will carry so much more weight, even if it’s just symbolic.  If only this is one month later, I believe our new government would not disappoint an entire group of humanity like this.

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Tagged: gay rights · News Buzz