A move to add sexual orientation to the list of categories
protected by the United Nations has been dropped in the midst of
intense pressure from the Vatican and Muslim nations, reports
GayWired.com. The motion was again shelved after it became
clear the Vatican and Arab countries led by Egypt wouldn't let it
pass. One openly gay member of the European Parliament, Britain's
Michael Cashman, labeled the opposition as "The Unholy Axis" and
added,
"Millions of people across the globe face imprisonment, torture, violence, and discrimination because of their sexual orientation. For the second year running the UN has failed to condemn this discrimination and the continuing abuses of human rights on the basis of a person's sexuality. Both the Vatican and the Conference of Islamic States should hang their heads in shame for having reduced their beliefs to the gutter of bigotry and discrimination."
The same alliance is attempting to revoke an executive order by Secretary General Kofi Annan that would provide the same-sex partners of UN workers with the benefits granted to married couples if their home countries approve.
One could be churlish and note that the bloody history of the
Vatican and the Islamic states regarding the right to life and
liberty for religious dissenters/minorities (not to mention gays
and lesbians) is so dreadful that you have to wonder, gape jawed,
at their sheer audacity to yet again promote an agenda of prejudice
under the guise of religious orthodoxy.
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