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From ABC News: "The Obama administration said today it will sign on to a United Nations declaration calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality around the world."
I appreciate the gesture, but it's an empty one. Defending their support of the declaration, a State department official said that signing it "commits us to no legal obligations." In other words, people of California, Arkansas, or anywhere else where you should decide that homosexuality should become a government issue, this declaration is just a nice to-do that we really have no intention of supporting with progressive legislation.
That such a statement should even have to be made just proves that we still have a long way to go in this country when it comes to ensuring equal rights for all citizens.
I totally understand that the economy needs a-fixin' and there are two wars going on. The gays can (sort of) wait. But if you're going to make sweeping, international gestures claiming your commitment to human rights, then have some intention of following through. And I simply don't think the Obama administration is in a position to do that right now.
Signing UN declarations has never had anything to do with how our ,or any, country conducts government business. It is symbolic, and was signed only because we were one of the few first world nations who didn't sign back in December when Bush refused. Much of what is signed at the UN is empty and symbolic, but the fact that we hadn't signed it and now have is an important symbol, but yes it really doesn't have anything to do with how this is handled in our country.
I agree with Olivia. The administration isn't actually spending any time on this, it's just signing something that the U.N. created. And, of course, any time the government signs something, there is (usually) a press release. I look at this as just an artifact of politics, not a real attempt to appear to be doing something while not actually doing anything. It's really not worth beating up the administration over this.
Speaking of the U.N., if you are a fan of Battlestar Galactica, check out this clip of James Olmos (Admiral Adama) in the United Nations' ECOSOC Chamber, talking about human rights issues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSFDrOxWCXY
The highlight is at the end, when he shouts "So say we all!".
(yes, I am a geek)
Symbolic statements do carry weight in the international arena, and the Obama administration signing onto this declaration is pretty significant. Until 2003, homosexual acts were criminalized in some states of this country. That's not all that long ago.
And for Bush to refuse to sign onto the call to decriminalize homosexuality around the world, meant a tacit endorsement of the persecution, torture and death of many people around the world for being suspected or confirmed homosexuals.
So for our current president to sign on and say, "hey, we really don't think that's ok," is a definite step in the right direction. It would be nice if he believed my right to marry was equal to his, but at least he doesn't think I'm a criminal!
Don’t judge based on popularity or blind reciprocity, instead make sure they “get it” and just as importantly, that their followers “get it”. More...
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