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Q-NOTES • MAY 10 . 2003
Congressmen denounce US
opposition to resolution
Reps. Lantos and Frank appalled at
US dedsion not to endorse UN Human
Rights for world's LGBT
WASHINGTON, DC — Rep. Tom Lantos
(D-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA) denounced
the Administration’s refusal to endorse a reso
lution at the UN Commission for Human
Rights expressing their "deep concern at the
occurrence of violations of human rights in the
world against persons on the grounds of their
sexual orientation," and called upon “all States
to promote and protect the human rights of all
persons regardless of their sexual orientation.”
The landmark resolution, presented by Brazil
and co-sponsored by Canada and 18 European
countries, was actively opposed by a group of
Islamic countries that claimed the resolution
went counter to their religion and laws.
A State Department spokesman said last
week that the US would also not endorse the
resolution because it is difficult for the US to
commit to “something that requires some sort
of universal application throughout the sys
tem, unless it covers basic principles that we
do in the federal system.”
The Administration did not explain how
the resolution’s non-discrimination principle
is not considered a basic principle in America.
“I am outraged at the Administration’s fail
ure to seize this critical opportunity to con
front the failure of many governments to fight
discrimination and violence against people
based on their sexual orientation,” said Rep.
Lantos, the top Democrat on the International
Relations Committee.
“It is truly shocking that the United States
would join forces with countries like Libya, Algeria
and Saudi Arabia in opposition to a resolution
calling on all nations to respect the human rights
of gays and lesbians. Our government’s action is
providing aid and cofnfort to regimes that sanc
tion and even participate in the brutal and dehu
manizing treatment of gays and lesbians.”
“President [George W.lBush has asserted
in the past that he believes all people should
be treated fairly without regard to their sexu
al orientation,” added Frank, “so I’m puzzled
why his Administration would oppose a reso
lution that advances that very principle. The
Administration’s inaction sadly speaks much
more loudly than the President’s words.”
US objected to UN resolution
language in hate crimes bill
Issue of worldwide, gay human rights
is tabled until next year
Given other recent resolution fiascos
between the US and United Nations, perhaps
it is not surprising that the language of this
resolution was no more appealing to the US
than the language of the never-got-it-
launchcd ultimatum to Sadam Hussein.
Let’s hope this resolution gaffe does not
lead to war on us.
The US would not have supported an historic
United Nations resolution endorsing gay human
rights recently because it did not believe the UN
session was the appropriate forum for the mat
ter, Agence France-Presse reported.
The annual meeting of the UN Human Rights
Commission ended after some Muslim nations
tried to block a vote on the resolution, which was
ultimately postponed until next year.
US State Department official confirmed the
United States intended to abstain from the vote.
“Given the multiple authorities addressing
these issues and the wide variety of ways in
which these issues arise, the US was not pre
pared to endorse the language of this resolu
tion,” spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Existing anti-discrimination legislation in US
states and cities “makes it difficult for the US, in
meetings like this, to commit itself to something
that requires some sort of universal application
throughout the system,” he said.
The Human Rights Campaign was hugely
disappointed in the US position.
“We are troubled by reports the US would
choose to abstain from voting on a resolution
that would protect the civil and human rights of
the world’s gay community,” said HRC director
Elizabeth Birch. “We are eager to work with the
State Department, allied groups and our sup
porters in Congress on this resolution when it
next comes up for consideration.”
actionlalert. ngltf
Call your elected
representatives now
Express your outrage at the support
being shown to Sen. Santorum's
bigoted language companng
homosexuality to pedophilia, bestiality
The New York Times has reported, upon
returning from a two-week recess, senior
Republican leaders in both houses of Congress
have risen to the defense of Sen. Rick Santorum.
Senate Majority leader Bill Frist was quoted as
saying that Santorum’s support among his fel
low Republicans in the Senate was solid.
Santorum is the third highest ranking
Republican in the Senate. “Absolutely, he will
remain in leadership,” Dr. Frist told reporters.
“He has the full, 100 percent confidence of the
Republican leadership in the US Senate.”
In a Task Force media release, the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force execu
tive director Lorri L. lean said, in part, “It is
despicable that a US Senator would devalue
our families by presenting them as a threat
to the American family, and by comparing
them to man-dog, man-child ‘relationships.’
We arc the American family.”
info:
www.ngltf.org