U.S. Refuses to Sign Measure On Decriminalization for Gays

[oberliner]

Alone among major Western nations, the United States has refused to sign a declaration presented Thursday at the United Nations calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.

In all, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration -- which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with anti-gay discrimination. More than 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality, and in several of those nations, homosexual acts can be punished by execution.

Co-sponsored by France and the Netherlands, the declaration was signed by all 27 European Union members, as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries. There was broad opposition from Muslim nations, and the United States refused to sign, indicating that some parts of the declaration raised legal questions that needed further review.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/18/AR2008121803743.html

[IndianaJones]

1. why be historically inconsistent? nt.

[gravity]

2. 29 more days

[jonnyblitz]

4. you think an Obama administration would sign it? nt

[gravity]

5. Yes

[DutchLiberal]

6. The Obama who associates with McClurkin and Warren?

[gravity]

10. Yes

[ThomCat]

24. What in the world, other than hopes and fantasies,

makes you think that? :shrug:

Has he presented one shred of actual policy legislative activity that would make you think he might take a step like that. That would piss off the religious right to No End, and we know he doesn't want to anger them.

[MountainLaurel]

33. Hope, fantasy, or a lot of psychopharmaceuticals n/t

[soulcore]

31. He's not going to let gays marry....

...why would he sign it?

[Thrill]

23. Yeah the Obama who has gays working on his transition and Nancy Sutley

in a Senior WH position. Yes that Obama

[mondo joe]

8. Is pro-criminalizarion just one more "side" for you?

[oberliner]

11. The opponents to this declaration in the UN made some Warren-esque statements

There was a counter-statement read by Syria which claimed that decriminalizing homosexuality could lead to the legitimization of pedophilia.

Excerpt:

But the opposing document said the statement "delves into matters which fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states" and could lead to "the social normalization, and possibly the legitimization, of many deplorable acts including pedophilia."

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4BH7EW20081218

[ananda]

20. There is no rationale for associating pedophilia..

.. with homosexuality.

That meme needs to be destroyed completely
and absolutely.

A n y b o d y can be a pedophile, and it's
not all t h a t common. Pedophilia is a sign
of serious mental disturbance, usually as a
result of childhood abuse.. not one's sexual
orientation.

Perhaps statistics and science.. some sort of
objective research.. could dispel this irrational
and homophobic idea regarding pedophilia.

We need to get that information out there and post
it frequently.


Sue

[oberliner]

21. Agreed

Thanks for your insights - hopefully this homophobic idea is on the road to being expelled.

[kevinbgoode]

12. Exactly. Obama won't support something like that because

it might inhibit building bridges with the "religious" bigots running the Muslim and "Christian" world, and he needs to find "common ground" on other things - so the house faggots should just shut up and concentrate on designing pretty dresses and doing hair and makeup for the heterosupremacist elite. After all, that's what God intended.

[gravity]

15. There is a difference between a token gesture and meaningful action

You can't compare a two minute prayer with an actual measure to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide.

[mondo joe]

16. Are pro- and de-criminalization just two extremist sides?

[gravity]

17. No

[mondo joe]

18. Funny. NT

[QC]

28. Yes. That's why we need to find middle ground between them.

Half of gays get sent to prison and the other half get equality.

How does that sound?

[Maven]

32. Just a disagreement. We need to be more tolerant of the pro-criminalization viewpoint

[izquierdista]

19. We shall see in another month

Which is the token gesture and which is the meaningful action.

[polmaven]

34. Abso-f'ing-LUTELY

an Obama administration would have signed this. What has he ever said or done to make you think he believes the FACT of homosexuality should be a CRIME, punishable by DEATH?

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[oberliner]

9. Let's hope the US gets on board

The fact that this is even being presented in the UN is a positive step at least.

[mondo joe]

7. self delete

[yardwork]

13. Kicking for those who think that this is about a two-minute prayer.

Now do you get it?

[Ioo]

25. Why do you hate America?

Gays get what they get. The democrats will get to them when it is time to get re-elected. Until them we will sit down and shut up. We will be asked not to remind people that we served in the military (like I did) and died for their freedoms, because face it, no want wants to hear your drama over why you "deserve" to be treated like everyone else.

In short, SIT Down and Shutup. The democrats have a plan for us, then they get 89 seats in the Senate, and 398 in the house, and Pluto becomes a planet again, and it aligns with Earth and Mars, and Madonna becomes culturally relevant again, they will ask us our opinion on what the next steps are. Until them relish in the bigotry they rain down on you...

[yardwork]

26. I went off-script.

[Ioo]

27. Don't let it happen again, or it is off to "camp" with you.

[yardwork]

29. What if I grovel?

[Ioo]

30. Look, The Dems know what is best for you. So Take what they give and love it.

If they want to send you to camp, it is because they love you and they want you to know that the hate they are allowing to happen is a good thing, an American thing, a democratic thing, and aren't you glad you are a part of it.

In fact, you should feel great that the GLBT is getting such a place of honor on the great day. I mean, they have given voice to a man that loves to talk about our cause. He has many many colorful things to say about us, and the dems know we love color!

So, They allowed me to tell you you get one more chance, you get one more chance to stay in the tent (over there, in the corner) and as long as you do not ask for anything (including a drink or rights) you can stay... but if you speak up again... CAMP time! As Nancy just put it, those gays think we are Rick-rollen them now... just wait for camp.

[NOW tense]

14. One more sign of how morally corrupt our nation has become.

Right now the U.S. couldn't lead other nations out of a paper bag. We have been a bumbling giant for 60 years riding on a wave of goodwill since WWII. We have been a raging alcoholic giant for the last 8. That must have been a lot of goodwill because we haven't lead on much since. Treating the world like our bitches is hardly social currency.

[kath]

22. Yet another way in which the US is a huge embarrassment, and SOOOO far behind other developed

nations.

Pathetic. That's what is, pathetic.

[StudsT]

35. United States stands alone in rejecting women's rights at UN Meetings...

1. Alone among major Western nations, US refuses to sign UN condemnation of anti-gay law


2. U.S., Russia refuse to sign cluster-bomb ban


3. U.S. Declines to Join Accord on Secret Detentions


4. US Influences Disability Rights Treaty, but Won’t Sign It


5. U.S. refusing to sign a United Nations declaration on children's rights

and so it goes...

StudsT