Kerry: U.S. launching new effort to combat anti-gay laws worldwide

[William769]

WASHINGTON — Troubled by an anti-gay movement in Uganda and across much of the world, the U.S. is launching a new effort to combat what Secretary of State John Kerry described Wednesday as a threat to human rights.

Comparing a harsh Uganda law to oppressive government crackdowns on German Jews in the 1930s and black South Africans during apartheid, Kerry said he was going to direct American ambassadors to look at “how we deal with this human rights challenge on a global basis.”

He said 80 nations worldwide have anti-gay laws on some levels, and he called the one in Uganda — which punishes gay sex with up to life in prison — “atrocious” and “flat out morally wrong.”

“You could change the focus of this legislation to black or Jewish, and you could be in 1930s Germany, or you could be in 1950s or ’60s apartheid South Africa,” Kerry told reporters during a 55-minute question-and-answer session at the State Department. “It was wrong there, egregiously, in both places, and it is wrong here.”

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2014/02/kerry-u-s-launching-new-effort-to-combat-anti-gay-laws-worldwide/

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[brer cat]

2. K&R nt

[okaawhatever]

3. This is going to piss some people off........and I couldn't be happier about it. nt

[rhett o rick]

4. Kerry should go to Arizona and Georgia. nm

[geek tragedy]

5. OFFS. nt

[William769]

7. Glad you don't speak for my community. nt

[rhett o rick]

8. We have anti-gay laws right here in the good ole USofA also. Why the attitude? nm

[William769]

9. Do you need a civics class 101?

Seems like you do. I give attitude where attitude is deserved.

I didn't ask to be a princess but if the crown fits...

[rhett o rick]

10. You guys always speak in riddles. I am going to guess your point. You are saying that

the Obama administration has no influence in the USofA regarding gay rights? Is that what you are trying to so cleverly say?

[William769]

14. You guys? That rich!

Take the civics class.

[geek tragedy]

15. Among the things you may learn in a civics class that william has suggested:

1) Vetoing a bill means it doesn't become law (unless it is overridden);
2) The Secretary of State doesn't conduct diplomacy with the United States, but rather on its behalf (Arizona is in the US, remember);
3) Presidents can advocate for things domestically AND internationally at the same time;
4) GLBT people in Africa and Russia are human beings too

bonus material from reading the headlines:

5) GLBT advocates like william are kicking ass all over the country on behalf of their communities' human rights and are winning the battle of public opinion across the country--you may want to respect their opinion on what the WH and anyone else is doing

[William769]

16. Thank you for such a kind remark.

I won't say more on what you posted because it speaks for itself.

[geek tragedy]

17. .

[rhett o rick]

18. And none of that addresses my question. Why isnt the admin taking a stronger stand

on the situation in Az and Georgia? I appreciate what they are doing around the globe, well except for the slave supporting TPP.

[geek tragedy]

19. For one, because the pressure is much more effective when it comes from business

and Republican groups like the Chamber of Commerce. Do you really think Barack Obama speaking out against a bill will make Republicans in Arizona and Georgia more likely to vote it down or veto it?

Shit, George Takei was better able to influence it than Barack Obama would have been. The GLBT civil rights movement has become one that transcends partisan politics.

And if that's not enough reason, consider the practicality of the administration speaking out against every anti-GLBT, anti-woman, racist law being considered in every legislature in the country.

[JI7]

20. so we shouldn't have done anything in WWII because minorities were treated like shit

in the US at the time.

[ProSense]

11. Send

Bill Clinton. You appear to be a fan: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024564373#post1

I'm sure he'd meet your approval.

[rhett o rick]

12. Did I step into the BOG or something? I have no idea what you are talking about.

If you havent noticed there are a number of states that are pushing anti-gay laws.

[ProSense]

13. BOG? You stepped

"Did I step into the BOG or something? I have no idea what you are talking about. If you havent noticed there are a number of states that are pushing anti-gay laws."

...into something that appears to be bitter.

[geek tragedy]

6. That picture is heartbreaking-sweet, innocent faces cheering on genocidal legislation nt