Obama Endorses United Nations' Statement on Gay Rights

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009, President Obama publically endorsed the United Nation’s Statement promoting the international decriminalization of homosexuality.  Questions remain regarding the effect the President’s actions will have on constitutionally guaranteed religious liberty rights.

Robert Wood, a spokesman for the State Department announced that “The United States supports the UN statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member-states who have declared their support of this statement that condemns human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity wherever they occur. The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and a critic of human rights abuses around the world. As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora.”

This decision is a complete reversal of the Bush Administration’s December 19, 2008 decision not to sign the Statement when it was initially presented at the United Nations.  The Bush Administration was concerned about the legal effect that signing the statement would have on the federal government’s authority over matters that fall under state jurisdiction.  The Administration's concern was focused on the impact the Statement could have on the rights of  private employers to choose whether to employ a person whose sexual orientation is in contradiction to their religious beliefs.  The Statement may also significantly impact the well known “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy,” which prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

Additionally, 70 of the UN member countries refused to endorse the statement citing concerns that protecting sexual orientation could lead to "the social normalization and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and incest.  The Vatican also opposed the endorsement of the declaration.

Robert Wood assured the press that there was nothing to be concerned about and that “a careful inter-agency review” had been conducted and “[s]upporting this statement . . . commits us to no legal obligations.”  Only time will tell the true implications of endorsing gay rights internationally.  In fact, very early on in his Presidency, news broke that President Obama began consulting his top advisors on how to overturn the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy.”

 

This information is provided by Advocates for Faith and Freedom, a non-profit religious law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty in the courts!  To help us in our ongoing battle for religious freedom, click here to donate to Advocates.