U.S. takes leadership role on global LGBT rights

 

Whoo-hoo! Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a landmark speech to diplomats assembled in Geneva last week calling on world leaders to reject anti-LGBT policies, and positioning the U.S. as a global leader on LGBT equality. 

Clinton said the idea that LGBT rights are a Western phenomenon ill-suited to other cultures was wrong: "[I]n reality, gay people are born into and belong to every society in the world."

A presidential memorandum issued by the White House while Clinton spoke directed federal agencies involved in work abroad to "ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons."

Quote of the Day: Hillary Clinton

"As we reflect on his life, it is also an occasion to reaffirm that human rights apply to everyone, no exceptions, and that the human rights of LGBT individuals cannot be separated from the human rights of all persons." - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, making a statement about the death of Ugandan LGBT activist David Kato, as quoted by Advocate.com

Quote of the Day: Hillary Clinton

“Gay rights are human rights." - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the new issue of The Advocate

Hillary Clinton on the cover of The Advocate

In spite of a wave of controversy washing over the U.S. State Department with the release of classified documents, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton granted The Advocate’s Washington correspondent, Kerry Eleveld, an interview just two days before the February issue went to press. Arguably the Obama administration’s most progressive and productive agency on LGBT equality, the State Department, under Clinton’s leadership, overhauled discriminatory personnel policies while championing gay rights internationally. 

Soon after declaring that “human rights are gay rights, and gay rights are human rights, once and for all” at the State Department’s pride celebration, Clinton began clarifying the department’s LGBT human rights policy to U.S. embassies around the globe. “There is this rising global tide of violence against the LGBT community around the world,” Clinton says, “and we are taking the lead in confronting the dangers of the lives and the livelihood of LGBT people as they go about their daily lives.”

Still, Secretary Clinton remains unchanged on the issue of full marriage equality. Clinton, recently caught off guard during a recent inquiry on the topic during a visit to Australia, supports civil unions but not full marriage equality. Despite her husband’s recent announcement that he supports full marriage equality, having many committed gay couples among his friends, Clinton says, “Well, I share his experience because we obviously share a lot of the same friends, but I have not changed my position.”

Nevertheless, Clinton aims to stomp out inequities in her own federal agency and worldwide. “I just really have a strong negative reaction to prejudice, discrimination, hatred, violence–anything that tried to delegitimize or marginalize any of our fellow citizens,” she notes. “So it fits into my long-term and personally felt commitment to expanding the circle of human rights for everyone.”

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY CLINTON: UN General Assembly Action on Sexual Orientation

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton released the following statement today at theUN General Assembly Action on Sexual Orientation:

"I am pleased by the UN General Assembly’s action today to include sexual orientation in a resolution condemning extrajudicial and summary executions. The United States introduced this language to send an unequivocal message in concert with our many international partners: No one should be killed for who they are.

Sadly, many people around the world continue to be targeted and killed because of their sexual orientation. These heinous crimes must be condemned and investigated wherever they occur. We look forward to continuing our work with others around the world to protect the human rights of those facing threats or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation."

It Gets Better: Hillary Clinton

- via Towleroad

Clinton: Gay rights are human rights

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a speech at the State Department Tuesday in which she declared that "human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights."

Clinton also outlined steps the U.S. is taking abroad to protect LGBT people. She urged openly LGBT professionals to remember that even though they have found success, the fight for equality is not over for many others.

HRC's Twelfth Annual National Dinner

Check out these great videos of remarks made by Sen. Hillary Clinton, personal finance expert Suze Orman, HRC President Joe Solmonese and others during its Twelfth Annual National Dinner held in Washington, D.C. Saturday night.

Sen. Joe Biden, originally scheduled to appear, cancelled his weekend campaign activities due to the illness of his wife Jill Biden's mother. In lieu of Senator Biden, Sen. Hillary Clinton offered to appear by satellite live from California to offer remarks. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese released a statement before the dinner.



Suze Orman

Sen. Hillary Clinton

Joe Solmonese