Our New Allies

(At least for today)

This is incredibly sad, but certainly not unexpected; via Raw Story:

The UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the United Nations Economic and Social Council voted January 23, 10-5 with three abstentions to deny the International Lesbian and Gay Association of Brussels and the Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians of Denmark consultive status at the UN.

Such status, which is enjoyed by over 3,000 NGOs around the world, allows access to UN proceedings, presence at conferences, and the right to propose agenda items.

ILGA operates in 90 countries, including the U.S., to reduce discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and respond to homophobic attacks.

The group has sought consultive status since 2002, which the U.S then supported.

The resolution to reject was put forth by Iran. Joining them and the U.S. in support of it were Cameroon, China, Cuba, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Iran and Zimbabwe in particular are among the world's most GLBT-oppressive nations in the world.

Voting against the rejection resolution were Chile, France, Germany, Peru and Romania.

Columbia, Turkey, and India abstained. Ivory Coast was not present.

Germany publicly objected to the vote, calling the denial an act of discrimination against NGOs whose sole purpose was to combat discrimination.