U.S. votes with Iran, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe against two gay groups at United Nations
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Press Release
MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar
646.358.1465(office)
rsklar@thetaskforce.org
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Another Prominent anti-gay Mmnister arrested on sex charge
A statement from Matt Foreman, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
U.S. votes with Iran, Cuba, Sudan and Zimbabwe against two gay
groups at United Nations; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
calls action an 'absolute outrage'
"Apparently Iran, which President Bush has deemed part of the
'Axis of Evil' is a suitable partner when it comes to
discriminating against gay people." - Matt Foreman, executive
director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
today denounced the United States' vote against two gay rights
organizations' applications to join the United Nations Economic
and Social Council. The United States joined the repressive,
anti-gay regimes of Iran, Zimbabwe, China, Cameroon and others
in voting against even granting a hearing to the application of
the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and the
Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians (Landsforeningen for
Bosser og Lesbiske - LBL). Instead, the two groups' applications
were summarily dismissed without a hearing.
"It is an absolute outrage that the United States has chosen to
align itself with tyrants - all in a sickening effort to smother
the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
around the world," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Apparently Iran, which
President Bush has deemed part of the 'Axis of Evil,' is a
suitable partner when it comes to discriminating against gay
people."
The governments of Iran and Zimbabwe are among the most
repressive anti-gay regimes in the world. President Mugabe of
Zimbabwe has long scapegoated and persecuted gay men and
lesbians. The recently-elected president of Iran, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, has overseen an anti-gay campaign in recent months,
in which many young people accused of homosexual acts have been
executed. Also leading the charge against the application of the
two gay groups was Egypt, which has persecuted gay men in recent
years.
"The Task Force thanks the International Lesbian and Gay
Association, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission and Human Rights Watch for their efforts to promote
pro-gay policies at the United Nations," Foreman said. "It is
repugnant that the self-proclaimed 'leader of the free world'
will align itself with bigots and tyrants at the drop of a hat
to advance the right wing's virulently anti-gay agenda."
The Bush-Cheney administration has also opposed women's and
children's rights treaties, sex education, contraception and
family planning in international forums.
Today's vote to summarily dismiss the applications of ILGA and
LBL was as follows, according to ILGA: Yes: Cameroon, China,
Cuba, Iran, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan, United
States of America, Zimbabwe No: Chile, France, Germany, Peru,
Romania; Abstention: Colombia, India, Turkey Not present: Ivory
Coast.
Three years ago, the United States abstained from voting on a
sexual orientation nondiscrimination resolution offered by
Brazil via the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
-30-
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Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Foundation (the Task Force) was the first national lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights and advocacy
organization and remains the movement's leading voice for
freedom, justice and equality. We work to build the grassroots
political strength of our community by training state and local
activists and leaders, working to strengthen the infrastructure
of state and local allies, and organizing broad-based campaigns
to build public support for complete equality for LGBT people.
Our Policy Institute, the community's premier think tank,
provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle
for complete equality. As part of a broader social justice
movement, we work to create a world that respects and makes
visible the diversity of human expression and identity where all
people may fully participate in society. Headquartered in
Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los
Angeles, Cambridge, Mass., and Miami. The Task Force is a
501(c)(3) corporation incorporated in Washington, D.C.
Contributions to the Task Force are tax deductible to the full
extent allowed by law.
Copyright(c) 2005 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Creating Change(TM) is a trademark of the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force.
All other trademarks mentioned herein belong to their respective
owners.
The Task Force Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization. Tax ID #52-1624852.
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