GAY RIGHTS DECLARATION IS PRESENTED TO THE UN

In a news item that appeared today, Gay Rights Declaration is Presented to the UN, that has as its basis the "UN Declaration of Human Rights," that states that: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," it is instructive and tragic to note that the Vatican and the United States refused to agree to this draft document!

Sixty-six countries Thursday called on the United Nations to urge members to decriminalize homosexuality, a position rejected by several Arab countries and the Vatican.

"We urge states to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention," the draft document says.

Alone among major Western nations, the United States has refused to sign a declaration presented Thursday at the United Nations calling for worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality.

In all, 66 of the U.N.'s 192 member countries signed the nonbinding declaration — which backers called a historic step to push the General Assembly to deal more forthrightly with any-gay discrimination. More than 70 U.N. members outlaw homosexuality, and in several of them homosexual acts can be punished by execution. [See here.]

Isn't there something wrong with this picture, when the United States that prides itself on "equality under the law" and "freedom for all," and being "the land of the free," refuses to agree to such a document that affirms the inherent dignity of Gay people, and their right to be treated equally to all human beings?

Is the U.S. Administration saying that Gay people aren't just like other human beings? Is it saying that Gay people aren't entitled to live free of punishment, arrest, and even execution because of their sexual orientation? Is it saying that Gay people are not subsumed under that UN Declaration of Human Right: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," ?

Of course, that's what it's saying, and all the rhetoric to the contrary puts the lie to any attempted justification for its malicious contempt for Gay people!

As bad as the "land of the free" not willing to sign such a document is, the Vatican's disagreement with it is even worse! That one action, or inaction, has shown, among many other things, that the Vatican has genuine contempt for Gay people, and does definitely believe that Gay people are not worthy to be treated as all God's children are to be treated: with dignity, mercy, and love.

As Jesus says: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

All the pageantry, sanctimonious rhetoric, and pious platitudes to the contrary, the Vatican has shown itself to be not only homophobic to its core, which we already knew, but that it is so hateful toward Gay people that they will not even sign on to this document that presents a united front by the UN that firmly argues against the discrimination, beatings, incarceration, and murders of Gay people!

A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Roman Catholic Church opposed the death penalty and other harsh repression of gays and lesbians, but he expressed concern that the declaration would be used as pressure against those who believe marriage rights should not be extended to gays.

A new Vatican statement, issued Thursday, endorsed the call to end criminal penalties against gays, but said that overall the declaration "gives rise to uncertainty in the law and challenges existing human norms."

So, the bottom line is that because of the "fear" that Gay people might be given the same rights to marriage as Straight people, the Vatican will not formally oppose, as distinct from rhetorically opposing, their discrimination, jailings, and executions as contained in this UN document affirming the dignity and right to live in peace of all of God's children!

As I've written so many times before, any Gay person, or any Gay rights advocate, who in any way supports the Roman Catholic Church, through their attendance or monies, is both seriously deluded and is contributing to the credibility and resources of the Vatican that it can and does use to perpetrate, perpetuate and contribute to all Gay people's spiritual, emotional, and physical destruction!

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