Obama Directs All Agencies to Protect and Promote Human Rights of LGBTs

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Ambassador Susan E. Rice today announced that President Obama directed all agencies to protect and promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons abroad.

On her remarks on President Obama’s Memorandum on International Initiatives to Advance the Human Rights of LGBT Persons, Ms. Rice said the United States has strongly supported efforts to codify and enshrine the promise of equality for the LGBT community.

“Since taking office in 2009, the Obama Administration has worked tirelessly within the UN system to advance the human rights of the world’s LGBT persons. Early on, we signed the UN General Assembly’s Statement on Sexual Orientation on Gender Identity.” -Ms. Rice

She cited that the U.S. government has joined the LGBT Core Groups in Geneva and New York. The U.S. government won NGO consultative status for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.

“We championed the first UN resolution dedicated to advancing the basic and fundamental rights of LGBT persons. Last December, on Human Rights Day, we pledged to restore language including LGBT individuals in a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings. Within two weeks, we did so.” -Ms. Rice

She stressed there is far more work to do before LGBT friends, neighbors, parents and children live in a world free of discrimination. She said through steadfast defense of universal values, persistent engagement with international partners, and the full force of U.S. efforts under the law, the world will get there.