LGBTs Still Under Attack
Even as the world starts to recognize the rights of LGBTs, still in some corners of the world, transgender people are targeted for violence at an alarming rate.
In his remarks at Washington DC, US Secretary of State, John Kerry said the US cannot forget the case of Matthew Shepard, a young man killed just because he was gay.
He highlighted that even though there is progress in uplifting the rights of LBGTs, there is still a long road to travel across the globe.
Reports say one transgender person is murdered every three days globally.
US Stands With The LGBTI Community
Secretary Kerry said the US is committed to stop all acts of hate and violence against gender non-conforming people.
“That’s why standing with the transgender community is the first step in ensuring they enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else.” – Secretary Kerry
Secretary Kerry reiterated that in July, President Obama signed an Executive Order prohibiting discrimination against transgender employees in the federal workplace.
Also, in March, the Department of Justice launched a program to train law enforcement to expand their outreach to the transgender community.
At the State Department, the US supports all efforts to combat discrimination against transgender persons.
The US is focusing on how to stop violence, harassment, and prejudice here in the United States and around the globe.
“To the transgender community, I want all of you to know that the United States stands with you.” – Secretary Kerry
In 2010, the United States also waged a serious fight against discrimination in New York.
In addition, the Department announced a new grant to provide emergency aid to some human rights defenders, either because they work on LGBT issues or because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender themselves in 2009.
President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which made it a federal crime to violently attack someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity in 2009. The law enforcement officials in United States now have the tools to respond to gay-bashing and related violent acts wherever they occur in the United States.
President Obama also issued a presidential memorandum extending, to the extent permissible under current law, federal benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of U.S. government employees in 2009.
UN Resolution Advancing Rights Of LGBTs
In November 2011, for the first time in history, the UN adopted a resolution dedicated to advancing the basic and fundamental human rights of LGBT persons.
The US considered the vote at the Human Rights Council marked a major victory for defenders of human rights.
The U.S. delegation voted yes in Geneva, and reaffirmed a basic American promise: to fight discrimination in any guise and to embrace diversity in every form.
The vote marked the beginnings of universal recognition that LGBT persons are endowed with the same inalienable rights as all human beings and entitled to the same protections as all human beings.
The United Nations has codified and enshrined the promise of equality for LGBT persons.
In addition, the United States is now a member of the LGBT Core Group at the United Nations-a decision that was long overdue.
