I knew that the Vatican opposed the UN statement calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality, but until Silence’s comment here, I had no idea that the United States apparently couldn’t bring itself to stand along side the civilized world in calling for an end to such idiocy:
Sixty-six countries signed a joint statement in support of LGBT human rights, which was tabled at the United Nations General Assembly today (18 December 2008). The full list follows below.
The most surprising non-signers were the United States and South Africa.
So what, right? It’s not like it’s a big problem.
“Some international human rights instruments have, of course, been interpreted to include sexual orientation, but this is not the same as the explicit prohibitions that exist concerning discrimination based on race, nationality, gender and so on.
“Currently, 86 countries (nearly half the nations on Earth) still have a total ban on male homosexuality and a smaller number also ban sex between women. The penalties in these countries range from a few years jail to life imprisonment. In at least seven countries or regions of countries (all under Islamist jurisdiction), the sentence is death, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Mauritania and parts of Nigeria and Pakistan,†said Mr Tatchell.
We should be so proud.