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| Home Front: Culture Wars | |
| Obama pushes gay rights in foreign policy | |
| 2011-12-06 | |
| PRESIDENT Barack Obama has ordered all government agencies, including those handing out aid, to put gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights at the centre of US foreign policy. "I am deeply concerned by the violence and discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons around the world," Mr Obama said in an official memorandum today.
"By this memorandum I am directing all agencies engaged abroad to ensure that US diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons," he said. The White House issued the memorandum ahead of a speech at the United Nations offices in Geneva later in the day on gay rights by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mr Obama directed government agencies to fight against the criminalisation of LGBT activity abroad and to combat discrimination, homophobia and intolerance. He required the departments of State and Homeland Security to ensure LGBT asylum seekers are properly protected and noted the US government could resettle highly vulnerable people who need urgent protection. The president directed agencies involved with foreign aid and development to engage governments and civil society groups abroad to "build respect for the human rights of LGBT persons". He also directed swift and meaningful action to respond to human rights abuses against LGBT people perpetrated by foreign governments and required all agencies to produce an annual report on progress towards all the initiatives. | |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #3 Another voter block. One very close to his heart. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-12-06 19:39 |
| #2 Tell it to your Soody pals, Baraq Hussein. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-12-06 16:49 |
| #1 Another voter block. |
| Posted by: Chineger Spimp7684 2011-12-06 16:47 |