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Obama Elevates Gay Rights as a Foreign Policy Priority

RadicalModerate

RadicalModerate

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President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a directive elevating the the rights and treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people abroad as a priority in U.S. foreign policy. A memorandum Mr. Obama sent to government agencies directs them to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, or LGBT persons.

He said he has been "deeply concerned" by violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons. He cited foreign laws criminalizing LGBT status, the beating of LGBT citizens for joining peaceful celebrations, and the killing of men, women and children for their perceived sexual orientation. Mr. Obama said America's commitment to advancing human rights for all people is strengthened when it vigorously advances the goal of promoting LGBT rights. Mr. Obama raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in September. "No country should deny people their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere," he said.

Treatment of LGBT people in other countries is already mentioned in annual State Department country human rights assessments. Mr. Obama's directive elevates the issue's importance as a foreign policy priority.

Link.
 
RadicalModerate said:
President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a directive elevating the the rights and treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people abroad as a priority in U.S. foreign policy. A memorandum Mr. Obama sent to government agencies directs them to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, or LGBT persons.

He said he has been "deeply concerned" by violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons. He cited foreign laws criminalizing LGBT status, the beating of LGBT citizens for joining peaceful celebrations, and the killing of men, women and children for their perceived sexual orientation. Mr. Obama said America's commitment to advancing human rights for all people is strengthened when it vigorously advances the goal of promoting LGBT rights. Mr. Obama raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in September. "No country should deny people their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere," he said.

Treatment of LGBT people in other countries is already mentioned in annual State Department country human rights assessments. Mr. Obama's directive elevates the issue's importance as a foreign policy priority.

Link.
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how bout elevating gay rights in our own country first...yanno, kinda like getting our own house in order before we start trying to demonstrate our moral superiority to everyone else.
 
When DOMA gets struck down I will take him seriously. Until then, hot air. :shrug:
 
RadicalModerate said:
President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a directive elevating the the rights and treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people abroad as a priority in U.S. foreign policy. A memorandum Mr. Obama sent to government agencies directs them to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, or LGBT persons.

He said he has been "deeply concerned" by violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons. He cited foreign laws criminalizing LGBT status, the beating of LGBT citizens for joining peaceful celebrations, and the killing of men, women and children for their perceived sexual orientation. Mr. Obama said America's commitment to advancing human rights for all people is strengthened when it vigorously advances the goal of promoting LGBT rights. Mr. Obama raised the issue at the United Nations General Assembly in September. "No country should deny people their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere," he said.

Treatment of LGBT people in other countries is already mentioned in annual State Department country human rights assessments. Mr. Obama's directive elevates the issue's importance as a foreign policy priority.

Link.
Click to expand...

Good for him. In many countries it borders on or equals Hitler's treatment of gays on a governmental level and with no comparison to inequality for gays in the USA.
 
Good. Liberals need to be a little more pragmatic in their approach to gay rights.

It is certainly not hypocritical for the US to condemn the stoning of gay people just because we don't (yet) recognize gay marriage on the federal level.

My marriage may not be recognized on the federal level, but I'd feel pretty damn selfish telling Obama to quit defending lesbians from governments that want to impose corrective rape therapy on them until I get a federal tax break.
 
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RadicalModerate said:
President Barack Obama on Tuesday issued a directive elevating the the rights and treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people abroad as a priority in U.S. foreign policy...
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I'll be more impressed when he issues a directive elevating the rights of homosexuals here in America as a priority in U.S. domestic policy. He can start by dismantling DOMA and pushing for laws that ensure homosexuals the same constitutional rights and protections as every other citizen... including the right to marry.
 
StillBallin75 said:
how bout elevating gay rights in our own country first...yanno, kinda like getting our own house in order before we start trying to demonstrate our moral superiority to everyone else.
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Well, our government usually tells other nations to live by standards that it exempts itself from, so I don't see why this should be any different.
 
Thank god. Hopefully some good comes out of this.
 
Temporal said:
When DOMA gets struck down I will take him seriously. Until then, hot air. :shrug:
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What more do you think he can do?

President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind a bill that would repeal the federal government's ban on same-sex marriage.

The president has "long called for a legislative appeal for the so-called Defense of Marriage Act which continues to have a real impact on families," White House spokesman Jay Carney announced Tuesday.

The president is “proud to support” the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, Carney said.

The Obama administration announced in February that it believes the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and would no longer defend it in court.
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Obama: Defense Of Marriage Act Should Be Repealed
 
AdamT said:
What more do you think he can do?



Obama: Defense Of Marriage Act Should Be Repealed
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He could have done ALL of that in his first year, when he had a majority congress who would have run roughshod over the opposition and passed every damned bill and-or-repeal that he wanted, which was what he'd promised to do during his campaign. He didn't. Now he can't. Lost credibility is lost.
 
Seems to me we have more urgent matters to worry about just the now.


:shrug:
 
So is there going to come to point when the country once again realizes Foreign Policy is supposed to do with the defense of this country and ONLY THAT. It is none of our business how other countries treat their citizens.
 
Henrin said:
So is there going to come to point when the country once again realizes Foreign Policy is supposed to do with the defense of this country and ONLY THAT. It is none of our business how other countries treat their citizens.
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I see your point, but to be fair that is an entirely subjective judgment.
 
Goshin said:
Seems to me we have more urgent matters to worry about just the now.


:shrug:
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Ensuring that all, not just some, of our citizens have their constitutional rights protected is pretty high up on the list, IMHO. I heard the same thing said about the Civil Rights Act, back in the day (I know, I know, a lop-sided comparison to be sure, but the basic premise is the same). Yes, there are wars and the economy is in the toilet, yada, yada, yada, but I've seen all these things before and most of you will see all these things again. However, until this country comes to grips with the last demographic that is legally discriminated against and denied equal constitutional rights, then there aren't many other domestic agendas that should take priority.
 
DiAnna said:
He could have done ALL of that in his first year, when he had a majority congress who would have run roughshod over the opposition and passed every damned bill and-or-repeal that he wanted, which was what he'd promised to do during his campaign. He didn't. Now he can't. Lost credibility is lost.
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Sure, he really didn't have anything else to deal with, and assuming he could even get the support of blue dog Dems. :roll:

It's a bit of a non-issue now that Obama has instructed the DOJ not to defend the law.
 
If it's going to be part of foreign policy it ought to be domestic policy as well.
 
Goshin said:
Seems to me we have more urgent matters to worry about just the now.


:shrug:
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You mean like having as our motto "In God we trust ?"

Give me a break.
 
theplaydrive said:
We can focus on more than one thing at a time.
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Well yeah, like the worst recession since WWII, the potential collapse of General Motors and Chrysler, the Afghan war, the Iraq war, the most significant health care reform in the nation's history ... little stuff like that.
 
StillBallin75 said:
I see your point, but to be fair that is an entirely subjective judgment.
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Then you don't understand my position. I'm not into just doing anything for that end as many of them involve a violation of the second rule to not interfere with others business.
 
Parrish said:
If it's going to be part of foreign policy it ought to be domestic policy as well.
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These domestic policies involves those of another country. They have their own law, their own culture, and their direction they wish to take that might not mesh up with ours at all. What you wish for them to have the other society might just not be ready for and might not accept. Its better to just stay out of it.
 
DiAnna said:
He could have done ALL of that in his first year, when he had a majority congress who would have run roughshod over the opposition and passed every damned bill and-or-repeal that he wanted, which was what he'd promised to do during his campaign. He didn't. Now he can't. Lost credibility is lost.
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Do you remember something referred to as the "Blue Dog Democrat"?

They were in and out pretty fast, so I would understand if you don't.
 
theplaydrive said:
Well, our government usually tells other nations to live by standards that it exempts itself from, so I don't see why this should be any different.
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Yes, because we stone and criminlize LBGT people all the ****ing time.

Un-****ing-believable.

Can't really get massively bothered about this. Would I rather we butt out of the business of other countries by and large? Sure. But that's unrealistic at this point and if we're going to be doing this kind of stuff I think attempting to suggest people should ****ing kill people for being gay is a pretty reasonable thing to promot.
 
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I'm a huge supporter of gay rights, but I agree that we need to get our own house in order first. I don't mind if he wants to give some speeches or send some delegates around trying to convince those countries to change policy, but don't commit any resources to the effort until we stop legalized discrimination in the US. We are not and cannot be the world's police, especially when we are facing the domestic problems we have right now.

I sure wouldn't mind seeing 20 bills come out that all included the repeal of DOMA.

Edit: I should add that I find what is going on out there disgusting, but it's not worse than other atrocities we are failing to prevent. It's just easy to paint good guy and bad guy name tags on this one, so it feels political more than moral.
 
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If you are in foreign country and are of the limp-wrist persuasion, you might think twice before flaunting yourself like a peacock. Likewise if you are a girl who dresses like a lumberjack, you might try a dress when somewhere like Poland or the like. What America in all its Political Correctness fails to notice is that the rest of the world is not as lenient as we are. Personally I think homosexuals should seek professional help.
 
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