Hillary Clinton: The U.S. Will Curb Global Anti-Gay Violence

by Michael Jones · 2009-09-25 11:43:00 UTC
Topics:

Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told folks at the Roosevelt Institute's Four Freedoms Medals Gala Dinner that the Obama administration will work hard to curb violence toward LGBT people around the globe.

According to Rex Wockner, Clinton spoke about global LGBT violence while receiving the Roosevelt Institute's Four Freedoms Award. Said Clinton:

"(We) must condemn violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In country after country after country, young men and women are persecuted, are singled out, even murdered in cold blood, because of who they love or just based on claims that they are gay."

South Africa. Jamaica. Brazil. Nigeria. The Gambia. Iran. Indonesia. Iraq. Senegal. Belarus.

And the list of countries guilty of LGBT violence goes on and on (not to mention the violence that happens rights here on this continent, in the U.S., Mexico and Canada). Though her words will need to be followed up with action, it's at least reassuring to know that this is on the U.S. State Department's radar screen.

"We are starting to track violence against the LGBT community, because where it happens anywhere in the world, the United States must speak out against it and work for its end," said Clinton. "Through our annual human rights report, we are documenting human rights abuses against LGBT communities worldwide. And we are seeking out partners at the United Nations such as Brazil, France, Sweden and the Netherlands to help us address these human rights abuses."

(Photo courtesy of marcn's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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