UN Affirms Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Human Rights

"The U.S. government is firmly committed to supporting the right of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals to lead productive and dignified lives, free from fear and violence.”
– U.S. Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe

On March 21st the UN received the Joint Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, which calls for an end to criminal sanctions and other human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Although these issues are highly sensitive for many nations, it affirms the application of existing human rights standards to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex.

The next day, the U.S. took a leadership role when the Obama administration called on the UN Human Rights Council to fight discrimination around the world. This marks a change at the UN, in line with a shift in policy since the Bush Administration, towards actively defending LGBT rights at home and abroad. While in Brazil last weekend President Obama announced the creation of a government position to monitor LGBT rights in the Western Hemisphere, a move praised by LGBT advocacy groups.

Mandated by a 1974 amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act, the U.S. State Department will soon release its annual “Report on Human Rights” covering all categories of abuse including violence against women, trafficking in persons, religious persecution, torture and arbitrary detention in all countries. The 2010 report, due any day, is expected to thoroughly cover the state of human rights for people vulnerable on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, especially in light of high-profile cases of violence, such as the murder of LGBT activist David Kato in Uganda.

In December 2010, the UN General Assembly voted 93-55 in favor of restoring a reference to “sexual preference” which had been removed by a subcommittee back in November from a resolution condemning extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The UN vote demonstrates a commitment that this vulnerable group will be defended.

Which nations have signed on to the UN Joint Statement? What does the Joint Statement mean for lawmaking in countries that have not signed on? How has the murder of David Kato affected the situation? What LGBT issues should be addressed at home in the U.S. in order to reinforce our country’s credibility as a leader in ending human rights abuses abroad?