A coalition of radical homosexual groups put heavy pressure on the Bush Administration to change its vote to allow UN accreditation of homosexual groups seeking UN recognition.
Though they were unsuccessful in gaining accreditation for the groups, they are claiming credit on their websites for getting the US to change what was a no vote to a yes.
The UN committee on non-governmental organizations [NGOs] has rejected two homosexual rights groups for “consultative status” with the UN Economic and Social Council. Rejected were the Lesbian and Gay Federation of Germany and the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Europe.
Voting in favor of rejecting the groups were Cameroon, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Iran, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Voting against rejecting the groups were Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Peru, Romania and the United States. India and Turkey abstained.
Last January, the United States voted against granting official UN status to ILGA and Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians. However, in a marked reversal, this time the United States voted against rejecting the applications of ILGA-Europe and the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany. [26May, Friday Fax]
Claiming credit for the change in US policy are Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Committee (IGLHRC). “The United States’ anti-gay vote was shocking. We are glad that the Administration heard our concern and reversed its position,” said Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC executive director.
Last January, the United States voted against granting official UN status to the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians and to the International Gay and Lesbian Association, a group charged with allowing pedophile groups in its membership. After that vote, a coalition of homosexual groups initiated a lobbying campaign and sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice demanding an explanation of the US position. Homosexual activists also met with the members of the US delegation at the Commission on Human Rights in Switzerland to voice their anger. Philipp Braun, the co-secretary general of ILGA, stated, “We are satisfied, though – ILGA’s campaign to support its member groups in their application for ECOSOC and have homosexuality and gender identity come out at the UN is going well and has forced this committee to engage a dialoge on our issues.” Braun is urging other homosexual groups to apply for status at the UN, stating, “It will be interesting to see how the NGO committee will react then.”
Homosexual groups are becoming more active at the UN as annually they pressure the UN Human Rights Commission to include homosexuality in the interpretation and implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
This would result in hate crimes charges being brought against Christian and others who oppose the homosexual agenda. The initiative has lost many years in a row owing largely to the Muslim countries.
Thomas Jacobson, the UN representative for Focus on the Family Action, said, “We commend the countries that successfully opposed the homosexual-rights groups. But we are disappointed that the Bush administration, after opposing such groups seeking NGO status for five years, changed its position.”
C-Fam: “We report further on the disturbing development that the Bush Administration voted in favor of accrediting radical homosexual groups at the United Nations. Social conservatives are deeply disturbed with this change in policy.”
[2June06, Friday Fax, C-FAM, Samantha Singson, Volume 9, Number 24 ]