US State Department Living Up To Standard to Make Homosexual Advocacy #1 Priority

By Terrence McKeegan, J.D. | May 18, 2011

What is the biggest issue for the United States in foreign affairs? It’s not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as evidenced by the quiet resignation of special envoy George Mitchell, which was a reflection of the utter failure of the US to achieve any substantive progress in peace talks.

It’s not the Arab revolutions spreading across north Africa, and the Middle East, where President Obama’s nine day silence on speaking out about the Libyan crisis was attributed by his press secretary to a “scheduling conflict”.

In contrast to President Obama’s lengthy silence on Libya, Secretary Clinton issued a breathless press statement just hours after the death of a gay Ugandan “human rights defender”, where she jumped to conclusions in condemning the death as a hate crime that was directly tied to the victim’s homosexual advocacy. Except it turned out that the circumstances of the death hardly fit the narrative that the US State Department wanted to use to advance their homosexual advocacy agenda.

It is this homosexual advocacy agenda that is the Obama administration’s Number 1 priority in their diplomatic efforts. But don’t take my word for it. Even a recent State Department fact sheet devotes as much space to LGBT issues as any other issue.

Which brings us to the latest promotion of this agenda. Did you know that there is an international day against homophobia and transphobia? Well, thanks to the US State Department, we now know that day is today.

The following press statement was issued today by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.

In every part of the world, men and women are persecuted and attacked because of who they are or whom they love. Homophobia, transphobia and the brutal hostility associated with them are often rooted in a lack of understanding of what it actually means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). So to combat this terrible scourge and break the cycle of fear and violence, we must work together to improve education and support those who stand up against laws that criminalize love and promote hate. As we mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia this May 17, let us resolve to redouble our efforts.

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am proud to reaffirm our support for LGBT communities at home and abroad, and to call for an end to discrimination and mistreatment of LGBT persons wherever it occurs. Whether by supporting LGBT advocates marching in Belgrade, leading the effort at the United Nations to affirm the human rights of LGBT persons, or condemning a vile law under consideration in Uganda, we are committed to our friends and allies in every region of the world who are fighting for equality and justice. These are not Western concepts; these are universal human rights.

Despite these gains and hard work, there is more to do to turn the tide of inequality and discrimination against the LGBT community. If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, know that the United States stands with you and we are unwavering in our commitment to ending this cycle of hate.

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