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(New York City) The United States joined
with four of the world's most repressive regimes to reject an application by two
international LGBT groups seeking to join a UN agency that advises the world
body on economics and social issues.
The application by the International Lesbian and Gay Association
and
the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians was dismissed without a hearing.
The groups had sought inclusion on the United Nations Economic and Social
Council, a think tank made up of non governmental agencies from around the
world.
The United States voted with Iran,
Zimbabwe, China, Cameroon against granting a hearing for the application.
ECOSOC status allows NGOs to
attend UN meetings and speak in their own name. The Council already has
participation from labor and social rights groups.
The governments of Iran and Zimbabwe are
considered to be among the most
repressive anti-gay regimes in the world.
President Mugabe of Zimbabwe has long
scapegoated and persecuted gay men and lesbians. The recently-elected president
of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has overseen an anti-gay campaign in recent
months, in which many young people accused of homosexual acts reportedly have been
executed.
Egypt also voted against considering the
application. That country too has a history of persecuting gay men.
"It is an absolute outrage that the United States has
chosen to align itself with tyrants — all in a sickening effort to smother the
voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world,"
said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force.
"Apparently Iran, which President Bush has deemed part of the 'Axis
of Evil,' is a suitable partner when it comes to discriminating against gay
people," said Foreman.
The ILGA has been trying to get
inclusion on the Council for the past four years. Each time it has been
met with roadblocks created in part by the US.
Three years ago, the United States abstained from voting on a
sexual orientation nondiscrimination resolution offered by Brazil via the U.N.
Human Rights Commission.
The Bush-Cheney administration has also opposed women's and
children's rights treaties, sex education, contraception and family planning in
international forums.
©365Gay.com 2006
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