The Trump administration has announced it will lead a global campaign aimed at decriminalizing homosexuality worldwide after a man was hanged for being gay in Iran last month. The move is seen as an attempt to shame Iran for human rights violations.
The plan to decriminalise homosexuality around the world has been revealed after multiple attacks by President Donald Trump’s government on LGBT+ rights.
The campaign is reportedly likely to request assistance from the European Union, United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Since Trump took office, his administration has rescinded protections for trans students, repeatedly pushed to ban transgender people from the military, rescinded guidelines to protect LGBT+ people in housing and in the workplace, he promoted anti-LGBT+ religious exemptions, and fired the entire HIV and AIDS Council. His administration has taken 94 actions against LGBT+ people since he’s been in office, according to GLAAD.
Using Iran’s anti-LGBT+ stance as a fulcrum to gather support from other nations against Trump’s political nemesis could work against the administration, especially if it opens up U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia to look over its stance on LGBT+ rights.
Garrard Conley, author of the critically acclaimed memoir ‘Boy Erased‘, shared his point of view on Trump administration plan.
Yes. They don’t want to deal w the homophobia at home so they’ll deal with those nations overseas bc their racism already assumes they are “barbaric”
— Garrard Conley (@gayrodcon) February 19, 2019
The US does not intend to address issues such as marriage equality, same-sex adoption, and anti-LGBT discrimination laws in countries where being gay is illegal.
The campaign to decriminalise homosexuality will be led by Richard Grenell, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, who will also make an effort to make homosexuality legal in every country, according to NBC News.
Grenell wrote in German newspaper Bild that the hanging “should be a wakeup call for anyone who supports basic human rights.”
The Us embassy in Germany has reportedly flown in LGBT+ campaigners from across Europe to have a meeting on Tuesday to plan the push for decriminalisation in the mostly African and Middle Eastern countries.
An American official who was involved in organising the meeting said: “It is concerning that, in the 21stcentury, some 70 countries continue to have laws that criminalise LGBTI status or conduct.”
Despite the onslaught of hostility from the Trump administration, international experts note that there are still many career foreign service officers at the State Department pushing for an expansion of human rights around the world. If those officers are able to take a leadership positions, this new initiative, whatever it is, it could lead to improved conditions abroad.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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