UNITED NATIONS: Obama Administration Issues Call To Battle For LGBT Rights

Today the Obama administration issued a landmark resolution calling upon the United Nations to battle discrimination against LGBT people everywhere in the world. Previous such resolutions sponsored by other nations were ignored by the Bush II administration.

The U.S. declaration was made Tuesday, March 22 at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and had the support of more than 80 countries. Although it is not in the form of binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year. The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance for LGBT lifestyles in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment. "We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested, and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity," said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. "This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated."

Among the nations signing on to such a resolution for the first time: Thailand, Rwanda, El Salvador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. United Nations resolutions are not legally binding upon the countries that endorse them.