Kerry Touts LGBT Rights While “So Many Other Crises are Happening”

By Wendy Wright | September 25, 2014

“It’s been a difficult year for the LGBT community throughout the world,” Secretary John Kerry stated at the UN today. Laws opposed by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates “are metastisizing.”

Kerry spoke at an event for the “Free and Equal” campaign run by the UN Human Rights Office. The Netherlands hosted the short program to show lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights “are being considered at the UN at a high-level event although so many other crises are happening in the world,” a Dutch staffer explained.

Prince Zeid al-Hussein, the new head of the UN human rights office, sat in the audience as foreign ministers from Argentina and the Netherlands joined Kerry on stage to rally the activists gathered in the small auditorium.

Ban Ki Moon sent a video message. The “fight for homosexual, lesbian and transgender rights lies at the core of the mission of the UN,” said the Secretary General.

A self-described staunch Catholic, Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmerman bemoaned there are “still some people in the church who need convincing.”

“This is the first time this event is open to all delegations,” Kerry announced.

Diplomats in attendance were invited on stage for a photo. Fifteen officials surrounded Zeid, who was handed a sign stating, “LGBT rights are Human Rights.” Staff from the Netherlands later said 20 delegations had attended. The UN has 193 members.

LGBT activists have hoped Zeid would keep sexual issues a priority for the human rights office.

Navi Pillay, the former head of the UN office, launched the “Free and Equal” initiative. Glossy brochures, social media campaigns and a colorful Bollywood music video promoting LGBT outshone any of the office’s other work. Yet Pillay frequently complained that her office did not have enough money to accomplish the tasks assigned to it.

Priorities are often determined by funding. Nordic countries gave the UN human rights office funding to focus on LGBT rights. The Obama administration’s Global Equality Fund has given money to 200 foreign LGBT activists for activities like Gay Pride events. Norway and Sweden have contributed to that Fund.

Most persecuted minorities do not have wealthy backers to take up their cause.

The Free and Equal event — though sparsely attended — did accomplish one thing. No new initiatives were announced, or victories claimed. As world leaders gathered at the UN, as countries grapple with an ebola plague, gruesome terrorists, economic strains and other crises, these leaders made clear what is their priority.

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