Chicago Free Press Editorial: It’s about time

Chicago Free Press Editorial: It’s about time
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
March 25, 2009
http://www.chicagofreepress.com/node/3306


International GLBT communities received good news last week when the Obama administration signed onto a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.

Former President George W. Bush had refused to sign the declaration late last year, making for yet another blot on both the U.S.’ track records on overall human rights and GLBT rights in particular.

Our country had been the only western nation not to add its name to the nonbinding declaration. The entire European Union, as well as Australia, Japan and Mexico, all signed. The other notable absence from the declaration was, not surprisingly, the Vatican.

The signing last week, of course, probably will cost President Obama relatively little political capital. Even the most strident foes of the gay community would dare argue in public that international GLBTs should not have the right to be left alone by hostile governments.

But we nevertheless congratulate President Obama and his administration on the signing. It is one step in reversing the Bush administration’s horrendous track record on human rights. Our country had moved to the point wherein we were debating the relative merits of torture, so it was to no one’s surprise that Bush would refuse to put his neck on the line for a constituency whose mere existence incited the ire of his base.

The declaration also represents an early step by the president in demonstrating a commitment to the GLBT community. He has made numerous promises to us, from overturning the ban on gays in the military to initiating a comprehensive policy on HIV/AIDS. We’ve been concerned that the administration will drag its feet on these promises; overturning Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, for example, seems to have gotten moved to the back burner for the time being.

But this is at least a good start on the president’s behalf, joining the rest of the world in speaking out on GLBTs who are oppressed and live under the threat of persecution. Some 70 U.N. nations outlaw homosexuality and more than 50 opposed the declaration.

For now, we’re at least pleased that our president has moved the United States to the right side of this battle.