A New Day for LGBT Rights at the United Nations

There's been lots written about the Obama administration's first 100 days when it comes to LGBT rights, with a lot of folks a little miffed (or at least concerned) that there's been little progress made by President Obama on many of the LGBT issues that were central to his campaign.  "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" remains in place.  The administration hasn't weighed in on any of the marriage equality bills or judicial decisions affirming same-sex marriage that have come down in the last two months.  The Employment Non-Discrimination Act remains in limbo in Congress, and it's unclear how much support the White House will eventually throw behind it in getting it passed.  And of course, President Obama has been regularly meeting with a handful of faith-based leaders that do not support even basic LGBT rights.

All of that said, the Obama administration and particularly UN Ambassador Susan Rice do deserve some credit for charting a new path for the United States at the United Nations when it comes to LGBT rights.  Here's an excerpt from a report by Ambassador Susan Rice, chronicling the work of the Obama administration at the UN during the first 100 days of Prez # 44.  It's a refreshing change from the "Dubya" years to see this put down on paper:

In the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations supported a world-wide review of laws that discriminate against women at the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women; worked for measures to reduce deaths in childbirth and support for reproductive health and family planning at this year’s meeting of the Commission on Population and Development; and joined the debate on global food security as part of a broader Obama Administration effort to identify more effective ways to help the world’s most vulnerable. President Obama also rescinded the “Mexico City policy,” that banned U.S. funding to international family planning groups that counsel women about the full range of reproductive-health options and restored funding to the UN Population Fund. The United States also reversed a prior decision and announced its support for a General Assembly declaration condemning human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and supported accreditation to the UN of responsible international non-governmental organizations that advocate for gay rights.

Of course it's great to see this put down on paper.  Now let's see this in practice.  That could take the form of the Obama administration recognizing the ongoing narrative coming out of Iraq, where LGBT citizens are facing brutal assault and murder by Iraqi police and other non-state actors.  Or lobbying other countries - from Burundi to Jamaica to Senegal to India (there's certainly no shortage) - to decriminalize homosexuality as a means of fostering human rights and fighting HIV.

Again, it's great to see this monumental shift at the UN, and Obama should be commended for it.  Now let's see that conviction translated into practice.