Dec 19 2008
Gay rights hits the International stage…and deadlocks
Few issues in America bring about the vitriol and emotional upheaval that gay rights do.
While I will not deeply delve into my detailed beliefs about gay rights in this forum, take it as a given that my position on the subject is nuanced and complex because I believe the issue itself is not a simple one.
The issue has grown in attention over the years, and now has hit the International stage in the UN.
Now…let me say that in my opinion, the UN is the single most corrupt, useless and meaningless organization in our world’s history. I have had little to say positive about the organization, and I think that the UN’s history of vile corruption, particularly when you look at the rampant corruption during the oil for food scandal, bears me out.
So now the UN has taken on the issue of gay rights, something else they can dither on and do nothing….which is what they do best:
Let me pause and interject something: The article does not list what the declarations said, nor does it list which countries support which. This will be relevant shortly….
The U.N. General Assembly split over the issue of gay rights on Thursday after a European-drafted statement calling for decriminalization of homosexuality prompted an Arab-backed one opposing it.
Note that immediately this has become a Euro/Arab issue according to the article.
Diplomats said a joint statement initiated by France and the Netherlands gathered 66 signatures in the 192-nation assembly after it was read out by Argentina at a plenary session. A rival statement, read out by Syria, gathered some 60.
Google searching has yet to find the roll call. The best I can find for supporters is this: “Co-sponsored by France and the Netherlands, the declaration was signed by all 27 European Union members, as well as Japan, Australia, Mexico and three dozen other countries”…1
The division in the General Assembly reflected conflicting laws in the world at large. According to sponsors of the Franco-Dutch text, homosexuality is illegal in 77 countries, seven of which punish it by death.
Maybe this is a better way to see who opposes it. According to Wikipedia it is 80 countries, not 77. Also I only found reference to 2 countries imposing the death penalty, not 7, but again, without details from the resolutions, that is open to debate.
The European Union-backed document, noting that the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was marked this month, said those rights applied equally to all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
More interesting is that many of the signatories of the supporting declaration proudly have no laws against gays, but also have none in support of gays, and won’t permit gay adoption.
But the opposing document said the statement “delves into matters which fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states” and could lead to “the social normalization, and possibly the legitimization, of many deplorable acts including pedophilia.”
And that echoes the debate here in America, where supporters of polygamy, for example, are watching the gay marriage debate closely, and the debate touches on Federalism versus Statism.
Muslim countries have for years opposed international attempts to legalize homosexuality.
Well so does the Vatican, so this is hardly just a MUSLIM issue, which this article clearly wants to imply.
And that is really my chief complaint. By the phrasing of this story the debate appears to be one between right minded progressive Europeans and atavistic unfair Muslims.
I don’t think it is fair to take such a complex debate and demagogue it down to such simplistic terms.
Regardless, the declarations are non binding and meaningless anyway. But like so many debates, how they are reported is just as telling as what is reported.
Trackposted to Rosemary’s Thoughts, Political Byline, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, DragonLady’s World, Rosemary’s News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, Cao’s Blog, L.O.M.A., Democrat=Socialist, CORSARI D’ITALIA, Conservative Cat, Right Voices, and Gone Hollywood, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
2 Responses to “Gay rights hits the International stage…and deadlocks”
Boy, have you nailed it. I could name several countries that do put to death homosexuals, but I won’t. I will just mention Cuba so that the liberal worshippers of Castro can figure that one out. Who do they love more? Homosexuals, life, or Marxism?
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