The United States is starting to support gay rights on the international scene. The Obama administration introduced a declaration at today’s Human Rights Council in Geneva to stop persecution of LGBT people internationally. The declaration has the support of 80 countries. Unfortunately the biggest offending countries of gay rights like China, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, and Ghana are refusing support.
Even though this declaration is aimed to stop persecution it is a far cry from the United States supporting marriage equality because it may infringe on “states’ rights” to recognize marriage, or lack of recognizing it. The gesture is good, but how effective will it be? The countries that refuse to support it are the worse human rights offenders. In order for the declaration to be effective it has to have teeth. Clear cut penalties for persecuting LGBT people. These penalties can include sanctions, imprisonment, or whatever it takes to enforce the declaration.
If it does not have the “teeth” it needs, then nothing is going to change for the international LGTB community.
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
