OBAMA UNDER FIRE FOR HISTORIC LGBT GLOBAL STRATEGY
President Obama is under fire from right-wing groups and Republicans in the U.S. for having issued the first-ever government strategy to address LGBT human rights overseas.
On Tuesday, Obama issued a historic memorandum directing all U.S. departments and agencies that engage in foreign affairs to promote LGBT human rights globally.
“I am deeply concerned by the violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons around the world – whether it is passing laws that criminalise LGBT status, beating citizens simply for joining peaceful LGBT pride celebrations, or killing men, women, and children for their perceived sexual orientation,” said Obama.
The memo orders U.S. agencies abroad to combat the criminalisation by foreign governments of LGBT people or conduct and for the Departments of State and Homeland Security to ensure that LGBT refugees and asylum seekers have equal access to protection and assistance.
The U.S. furthermore commits itself to ensuring that it is able to swiftly and meaningfully respond to serious incidents that threaten the human rights of LGBT people abroad and to work with international organisations in the fight against LGBT discrimination.
The memo also orders agencies involved with foreign aid and development to help build respect for the human rights of LGBT people.
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry lashed out at Obama’s memorandum, saying that it is “the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country.”
He added: “Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americans of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong. President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles.”
Senator Rick Santorum, another Republican presidential candidate, also slammed the president’s move, accusing him of “promoting gay lifestyles and gay rights”.
“I would suggest that we give out humanitarian aid based on humanitarian need, not based on whether people are promoting their particular agenda. Obviously the administration is promoting their particular agenda in this country, and now they feel it’s their obligation to promote those values not just in the military, not just in our society, but now around the world with taxpayer dollars,” said Santorum.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest LGBT rights group, applauded the Obama administration’s commitment to LGBT equality around the globe.
“Today’s actions by President Obama make clear that the United States will not turn a blind eye when governments commit or allow abuses to the human rights of LGBT people,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.
Good and all but yet most of your States don’t legalize gay marriages. Like the South African guy that is going to be deported and separated from his true American love…
These things take time. America is a deeply divided society when it comes to politics. The president can’t just order the passing of gay marriage. A lot of diplomacy has to be implemented before such a move is made. Both Barack Obama & Hilary Clinton have acknowledged that there is more to be done in terms of LGBT rights in America.
The point is, President Obama has made progress in promoting gay rights in his home country and abroad. No other administration has done more for LGBT rights in the US. Surely he will do even more with time?
Agreed on that! See the article is now also on “Nuus24”. Allot of gay bashing as usual… Bible this and Bible that. Cause of this that I lost my religion…
Only the Afrikaners, they have a bad history of being homophobic and racist. Makes me ashamed to be Afrikaans. The English South Africans are much more accepting.
The biggest change that Obama can make on the home front will be to repeal DOMA (Defence Of Marriage Act) that, ironically, was enacted in 1996 by Bill Clinton. This defines marriage as being between one man and one woman only and allows each state the right to decide whether they’ll accept gay marriage or not and also whether they’ll recognise a same-sex marriage from another state.
If DOMA is repealed, the states will have to fall in line with federal law and some will have to change their state constitutions (which some did when DOMA was enacted). The only states that allow same-sex marriage are most of those on the North Atlantic, and puzzlingly Iowa. Some states will recognise same-sex marriage from another state although not allowing marriages to take place themselves but the vast majority of the states have laws (some constitutional) against same-sex marriages.
Personally, I think that Obama should be focussing on garnering support against DOMA first, before creating such a foreign policy. Before preaching equality, he should have equality, otherwise he’s just a hypocrite.