Unshelved by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum
comic strip overdue media

Friday, December 19, 2008

Sometimes I think we're so backwards for a 'first world' nation

US balks at decriminalising homosexuality: Sixty-six nations wage campaign to better deal with discrimination
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.


Favourite quote, from Dutch foreign affairs minister, Maxime Verhagen:

'Human rights apply to all people in all places at all times. I will not accept any excuse.'

In all, more than fifty countries opposed the symbolic, non-binding measure, but 66 signed it--including all of Europe, Japan, and Australia. Opposition was mainly seen in Islamic areas, Asia, and Africa. According to the article, in over 70 countries that are members of the United Nations, homosexuality is a crime, and in some of them that crime can be punsishable by death.

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