One Small Step for the U.S., One Giant Step for LBGT Rights

Earlier today, we told you about a historic commitment by the United States to the cause of LGBT international human rights. We hope that this is just a first step toward a greater global recognition that LGBT rights are really core human rights, and we hope that the government will “walk the talk” when it comes to gay rights at home.

It is worth noting that in her remarks before the U.N in Geneva, Secretary Clinton acknowledged that the U.S. still has a long way to go when it comes to our own record on LGBT rights at home. She stated:

I speak about this subject knowing that my own country’s record on human rights for gay people is far from perfect. Until 2003, it was still a crime in parts of our country. Many LGBT Americans have endured violence and harassment in their own lives, and for some, including many young people, bullying and exclusion are daily experiences. So we, like all nations, have more work to do to protect human rights at home.

Indeed, we have a long way to go. We hope that the Obama administration’s respect and leadership on human rights issues abroad indicates that the administration will fulfill promises made to bring human rights home. The ACLU and the Human Rights at Home Campaign have been calling on President Obama to, among other things, issue an Executive Order that would fully implement U.S. treaty obligations, and create an accountable and transparent mechanism to integrate international human rights into domestic policy.

This Saturday, December 10, is International Human Rights Day. You can mark this important occasion by joining us in calling on President Obama to issue an Executive Order on Human Rights!

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