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Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter in January to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk because of his concern over what he called the barbarity of Uganda‘s proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill (“kill the gays bill”).
In his response to Senator Wyden, the Department of State’s Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs, Richard R. Verma, revealed that not only is the Department carefully monitoring the situation in Uganda, it has broadened its view to the entire African continent.
The State Department is also evaluating attitudes and laws that marginalize and criminalize and penalize the LGBT community in Africa more broadly. We have asked all of our embassies in Africa to report on host country laws and pending legislation that criminalizes homosexuality. In addition, our Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has established a task force on LGBT issues to strategize a United States Government response to LBGT issues worldwide.
This is not only excellent news for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people living in African countries, but for those of us right here at home. The more light that the Department of State shines on policies in other countries that are infringing on the human rights of LGBT people, the more scrutiny our own policies here at home will receive in return. You can’t be a beacon of liberty abroad if you oppress your own. It seems that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton understands this.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor describes itself this way:
“In democracies, respecting rights isn’t a choice leaders make day-by-day, it is the reason they govern.” – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham ClintonPromoting freedom and democracy and protecting human rights around the world are central to U.S. foreign policy. The values captured in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in other global and regional commitments are consistent with the values upon which the United States was founded centuries ago. The United States supports those persons who long to live in freedom and under democratic governments that protect universally accepted human rights. The United States uses a wide range of tools to advance a freedom agenda, including bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, foreign assistance, reporting and public outreach, and economic sanctions. The United States is committed to working with democratic partners, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations, and engaged citizens to support those seeking freedom.
I was not immediately able to find any information on the LGBT task force mentioned in Mr. Verma’s letter. However, the brand new fact sheet “Tracking Human Rights Worldwide: The State Department Country Reports” lists the following bullet point in the section titled “What’s new about the Country Reports this year?”
Expanded coverage of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons, as well as a section on “Other Societal Discrimination” covering persons with HIV/AIDS.
Kudos to Secretary Clinton and President Obama for recognizing that LGBT rights are human rights, and for making LGBT people a visible part of the equation. I count this as solid progress.
Related: Senator Ron Wyden asks for review of Uganda’s trade status if the gay genocide bill passes
16 Comments
Kudos is right.This makes me glad to read this. Thank you for passing it along.
Excellent newsSharing this on FB as well; great writeup Lurleen!
Good news. Let’s hope for more.Bizarre Clinton bashing from GLBT bloggers who are or were for some still-unexplained reason Obamamaniacs in 3, 2, 1…
Hillary never says “gay/lesbian”Sixty-one years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, sexual orientation and gender identity still pose a threat to the dignity and sovereignty of individuals around the world.
President Obama frequent quote“Our gay lesbian brothers and sisters”. Nothing describing us under the polite broad umbrella term “human rights”. but straight to the point, LGBT civil rights. Thanks President Obama. No wonder the mayor of Raleigh didn’t know that the Human Rights Campaign convention meant LGBT Civil Rights. He said, “Have a nice campaign”.
I’m with you.I’d much rather hear the words “gay lesbian [sic] brothers and sisters” than see actual action on the issues that affect the lives of actual gays and lesbians.
And, you know, when searching HRC’s record on the issues, I found… Well, about two examples of her not working the phrase “gay and lesbian” into her answers when questioned on GLBT issues. Admittedly no “brothers and sisters,” though.
“I think that this issue of gays and lesbians and their rights will remain an important one in our country. Tomorrow we’re going to vote on the hate crimes bill. We haven’t been able to get it passed, and it is an important measure to send a message that we stand against hatred and divisiveness.”
- Hillary Clinton saying “gays and lesbians” at the Dem debate at Dartmouth.
“You know, I remember when I was running for the Senate as first lady marching in the gay pride parade in New York City, and to a lot of people that was just an unbelievable act.”
- Hillary Clinton saying “gay pride parade” at the HRC/Logo debate
“I also believe that people in committed gay marriages, as they believe them to be, should be given rights under the law that recognize and respect their relationship.”
Hillary Clinton even dropping “committed gay marriages,” in a 2007 interview
“There’s checks and balances, the Congress was adamantly opposed at the time to letting gays and lesbians serve openly. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ was the compromised policy.”
Hillary Clinton saying “gays and lesbians”–though omitting that they are her “brothers and sisters” at Dem debate at Saint Anselm.
“One of Bill’s first challenges as commander in chief became the promise he made during the campaign to let gays and lesbians serve in the military as long as their sexual orientation did not in any way compromise their performance or unit cohesion.”
Hillary Clinton writing about “gays and lesbians” in “Living History”
“We ought to be providing domestic partnership benefits for people who are in homosexual and lesbian relationships.”
Hillary Clinton dropping even the antiquated, turn-off h-bomb on CNN in 2000.
About time…. Thanks forwarded on to African contacts.
Also…Weren’t we promised more pro-active work on women’s issues? Now I’m curious. Is this actually going on behind the scenes (as some LGBT work seems to have,) or has it fallen by the wayside?
I’m not exaggerating when I say that sexual equality is the most effective way to address a number of problems. Overpopulation? Educated women have fewer babies. Disease? Educated women are more able to protect themselves and their children from many diseases. Economic development? When women aren’t part of the economy, half of any nation’s potential is wasted.
Obviously, it’s not going to cure malaria or get everyone safe drinking water. But educating and empowering women can do SO MUCH for world stability, aside from the obvious benefits to the women themselves.
Ron WydenAnd Kudos to my senator Ron Wyden. We have no better friend than Ron. I understand he will be challenged this year by a gay, Libertarian from Eugene. My vote is with Ron. I trust him to do the right thing for us. Even though he is one of Dorthy’s boys I don’t trust the new guy.
Thanks Ron, for everything you have done for us. Keep up the good work and you can count on my vote.
Spam alert!
What will this do, in practical terms?So far, I’m seeing nothing more than the same old condescending pats on the head. How will this help gay men and women in Uganda, Malawi, Egypt and other African nations, men and women whose very lives are in grave peril every day?
Thank youfor doing this research. I watched her in the New York Pride Parade full of energy and smiles. The question is, would she speak at the Human Rights Campaign fundraising event as Secretary of State ? I’m not on her case, just have been surrounded by polite ladies of that generation most of my life and “gay/lesbian” is not in their every day vocabulary.
Hrm…I doubt it. Secs of State are traditionally thought to be “above” domestic politics. I know–what a laugh. But her decreased ability to appear at events was one of the Dem objections to making her Sec of State (she isn’t likely to appear at any Dem fundraisers).
I kinda laughed at her “homosexual and lesbian” slip. Are lesbians not homosexuals? Still, at least she was espousing a position that in 2000 was kind of progressive. I’m predicting she comes out for marriage equality in… 2014. Maybe 2013. Obama will follow around 2017. Just guesses, of course, based on where their political careers will be at those points.
It helps in several ways.I can’t believe anyone would dismiss this as just a stupid condescension. Here are the ways I see this helping, and I have no special knowledge of the Dept of State. Someone with those insights could probably add to the list:
First, making us part of the human rights conversation is very important, don’t you agree?
Second, it is important for LGBT and ally travelers and businesspeople to know if they risk harassment, violence, imprisonment or death if they travel to country X.
Third, this signals that how a country treats its LGBT inhabitants may now be a factor in larger negotiations. In the Uganda example, you can already see that members of Congress are gearing up to strip Uganda of trade agreements and assistance beneficial to them if they pass the Anti-Homosexuality Law.
Don’t forget that Secretary Clinton changed policy almost immediately upon coming into office so that the families of her LGBT diplomats are treated with the same respect as her heterosexual ones. First ever in American history.
None of the above is a “pat on the head”. We’re part of the Department of State’s consciousness and system now. We can’t magically make everything all better all of a sudden for LGBT people in Uganda, Malawa, etc. (we can’t even do that at home) But we can give them an important assist by joining other nations in using our bully pulpit and economic sway to pressure hate-prone governments to ease up.
I agree completelyAnd as an FSO and someone who has worked with Secretary Clinton on these issues, I do have a special knowledge of the Department of State.
Secretary Clinton brought our issues to the table at her very first senior staff meeting, which took place her second day in office. She told her staff she wanted to fix our issues immediately. She was ready to offer benefits within two months, but was constrained by things beyond her control and had to wait until June.
She is our allie, and she is not shy about it. We have to recognize that there is a limit to what we can force other countries to do, but she is committed to applying pressure where she can. This is definitely not a pat on the head.
While I agree that Clinton is heads above nearly all other national US politicians…It would be nice if she viewed marriage as a “human right.” Sigh.
Though, again, I’m sure she’ll come around some time between leaving this office and the 2016 election.