Your Tax Dollars At Work

Once again, the Bush administration displays it's true bigoted, homophobic nature, as detailed in the following article from Gay.com. Its' refusal to even allow a hearing as to whether the LGBT groups should be allowed the join the United Nations Economic and Social Council puts them in the same camp as some of the most repressive regimes in the world.

I came across this story through a link on Newsvine (a new site in which indivuals may post links to news stories, similiar to Digg.com & Slashdot). I've posted the entire article from Gay.com below.

This story prompted me to do some research on the United Nations website, where I found a list of other organizations that are members of this particular UN agency. It consists of various women's rights, education, labor, and social justice groups, such as the All India Women's Education Fund Association, Civic Education Project, General Federation of Iraqi Women, General Italian Confederation of Labour, Inter-African Union for Human Rights, Norwegian Federation of Organizations of Disabled People, Pacific Rim Institute for Development and Education, and even a group called the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, as well as many other organizations. These various groups act only in an advisory capacity in the UN, offering their opinions on topics of concern to their organizations.

But the Bush administration doesn't seem to think the opinions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender peoples are worthy of even being heard. The current adminstration likes to brag about how they were able to overthrow the repressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan, while itself catering to the religious right (the American Taliban?) in this country, which given the chance, would institute the same type of repressive laws and customs as their Muslim counterparts.

Let's just hope that the voters in this country wake up and remove some of these hypocritical, lying, repressive bigots from office this coming election year (2006 Congressional & Senate races) and in 2008 (Presidential election) before they are able to further carry out their plans to make the United States into the religious theocracy they so desire.

U.S. Nixes Gay Inclusion At UN

by Doug Windsor, 365Gay.com New York Bureau

Posted: January 24, 2006 - 11:00 am ET

(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

And that's my opinion !

{Just to clarify, I've started using this color and type style whenever expressing my personal opinion on a topic--so if you see this you'll know it's me ranting !}