President Obama Promotes LGBT Rights on International Day of Families
The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute is about to bring to light how the Obama administration (along with Finland) promoted LGBT rights around the same day the United Nations devoted to the “International Family.”
Here is the joint statement from The State Department and Finland:
"The United States and Finland recognize that supporting human rights is the responsibility of all governments and peoples, and that the human rights of LGBT persons are not different or separate from the human rights of any other persons.
Defending the human rights of LGBT persons is part of our shared human rights policies, and of our respective foreign policies. As part of its commitment to these values, Finland announces its pledge to increase its support to the Global Equality Fund by 1 million Euros, and will continue to work with the United States and other like-minded partners — including the governments of Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, as well as the Arcus Foundation, the John D. Evans Foundation, LLH: the Norwegian LGBT Organization, the M•A•C AIDS Fund, Deloitte, and Out Leadership — to build on our shared commitment and partnership to advance freedom, equality, and dignity for all.
The international community plays a leading role in promoting universal human rights and non-discrimination around the world. Through the Global Equality Fund, like-minded governments, foundations, and corporations work together to affirm a consistent global message that LGBT rights are human rights. Through the Fund, governments are able to partner in support of civil society organizations working to advance tolerance and respect for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Working together not only increases our effectiveness, but also helps to further the notion that ensuring the ability of LGBT persons to live safely, freely, and without discrimination is a growing priority among many governments as well as non-governmental partners. The United States and Finland will continue to focus our mutual efforts on combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons, wherever they occur, to ensure that all persons are free to lead their lives with dignity and equality.
C-FAM is on the lookout for “socially radical policies” at the U.N. and elsewhere and they claim LGBT rights are central to the, “Obama Doctrine.” Read below from Wendy Wright, Vice President for Government Relations and Communications. She comes out with this information tomorrow.
Wendy Wright of C-FAM:
The United States chose the International Day of Families to release a statement on “homophobia and transphobia.” The move underscores a priority in the “Obama Doctrine,” the President’s foreign policy that is racking up criticisms worldwide – and triggering perilous consequences.
Christian, Jewish, Muslim, academic and civil society leaders spoke at UN headquarters on Thursday on the virtues of the family for every society. Several attributed male and female distinctions, particularly in parenting, for its success in forming healthy individuals and societies. One warned that, despite agreement that unifies people around the globe, the family and the concept of male and female are “under attack.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. issued a joint statement with Finland vowing to focus on “combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons” and announcing Finland’s contribution of 1 million Euros to Obama’s global equality fund. The fund boosts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists in other countries and treats restrictions on homosexual and transgender activity, such as prohibiting promoting LGBT to children or requiring persons identify their accurate sex on passports, as human rights violations.
U.S. and international leaders increasingly criticize President Obama’s foreign policy approach, especially his weak responses to massive human rights atrocities and religious cleansing in the Middle East and Africa.
But the Obama administration boasts – and few disagree – it has been all-hands-on-deck when it comes to expanding sexual rights.
The State Department released a fact sheet listing its “significantly expanded efforts” to promote LGBT rights through “private engagement with governments and civil society, public diplomacy, foreign assistance, and work in multilateral fora.”
“There are few areas where I think our task is so clear” as to work “for the rights and the dignity of LGBT persons around the world,” said Secretary John Kerry.
The fact sheet says, “Responding quickly and effectively to violence and discrimination against LGBT persons is a priority for the State Department.” State Department leadership is “continually engaging, both privately and publicly, on behalf of LGBT refugees and asylum seekers.”
The kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls by Nigeria terrorists unexpectedly exposed what critics see as the lack of balance in his priorities. After Michelle Obama and Hollywood stars demanded efforts to rescue schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, it came to light the State Department denied visas multiple times to two Christian girls, victims of Boko Haram, one who survived a slaughter and another a slave-bride.
“We were facing an administration that was denying the religious discrimination of Christians in Nigeria,” said human rights attorney Emmanuel Ogebe.
An executive order in 2011 made lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights a top foreign policy priority.
National leaders and foreign policy experts say this focus has caused a backlash in some countries.
Uganda President Museveni reportedly initially leaned against legislation toughening penalties on homosexuality. When he signed it into law, Museveni pointed out pressure from Obama had a reverse effect.
“I would like to discourage the USA government from taking the line that passing this law will ‘complicate our valued relationship’ with the USA as President Obama said,” Museveni said.
“Africans do not seek to impose our views on anybody. We do not want anybody to impose their views on us.”