U.S. to sign U.N. gay rights declaration

[Ogre Mage]

The Obama Adminstration takes its first action on gay rights and interestingly, it is on the international front.  Kudos to the President, Sec. Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan Rice.

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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/03/18/administration_to_support_un_d.html?wprss=44

[Bono]

This is why no world leader dares to challenge the UN--it is a wonderful forum to push policies that they know they couldn't pass at home.

[Sbane]

This is why no world leader dares to challenge the UN--it is a wonderful forum to push policies that they know they couldn't pass at home.

Yeah because recognizing that gays have rights is soooo horrible.

[Lief 🗽]

This impedes on each individual state's sovereign right to discriminate against the gays! Disgusting.

[Boris]

which is not legally binding

we live in a very strange world, don't we?

[dead0man]

Good (if pointless)

[RosettaStoned]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

[??????????]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

[Serenity Now]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

I think he means on a global level..

[Ogre Mage]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

A large number of states in the U.S. have no or weak anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation, which means an employer can fire someone and a landlord can evict them from their apartment for being gay or lesbian.  Bill Clinton tried to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the 90s but it did not pass the Congress; under the current White House/Congress I expect it will be reintroduced. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_LGBT_civil_rights_August_2008.png

I hope you are not suggesting that gays and lesbians do not face serious discrimination in the United States.  Because we do.

[RosettaStoned]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

Are you kidding me? We can still get fired from our jobs for being gay (in some states) and we can't marry.

[dead0man]

Yeah, if only we were as open to gays as Russia is.

[??????????]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

Are you kidding me? We can still get fired from our jobs for being gay (in some states) and we can't marry.

Nonsense of course.

[Sbane]

One day us gays are going to be equal.

Who denies you the right to vote, equal treatment in the workplace, et al?

Are you kidding me? We can still get fired from our jobs for being gay (in some states) and we can't marry.

Nonsense of course.

Keep up the good fight against reality!!!!

[Holmes]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_LGBT_civil_rights_August_2008.png

Just to add, North Dakota, Kansas and West Virginia, among others, have passed bills that would allow protection to gay people. Although to be quite honest I dunno if that includes the gender identity though...

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Good.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Anyone saying there is no anti-gay employment discrimination needs to watch Milk and take note of Proposition 6.

[© tweed]

Anyone saying there is no anti-gay employment discrimination needs to watch Milk and take note of Proposition 6.

that failed, 30 years ago.

[??????????]

Anyone saying there is no anti-gay employment discrimination needs to watch Milk and take note of Proposition 6.

Milk? LOL that was over 30 years ago.

[tik 🪀✨]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_LGBT_civil_rights_August_2008.png

Just to add, North Dakota, Kansas and West Virginia, among others, have passed bills that would allow protection to gay people. Although to be quite honest I dunno if that includes the gender identity though...

Probably not. "Gender identity" is still a hugely misunderstood concept that is at odds with what the majority consider non-negotiable. I'd compare it to the  acceptance of homosexuality 30 years ago.

Still, a good move by the new administration, albeit pointless and rather pandering.

[Ogre Mage]

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http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/issues/employment-and-rights-in-the-workplace/

Minorities and women suffered from open and frequent employment discrimination before there were laws against it.  Gays and lesbians have not escaped this treatment either.

As for the marriage issue, this is not just some luxury privilege.  There are major risks when you and your partner are not legally recognized by society.  Janice Langbehn of Lacey, Wash. and her children found this out the hard way when they were in Florida, an "anti-gay state":

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flrxgaysuit0626sbjun26,0,3396801.story