“It is an absolute outrage that the United States has chosen to align itself with tyrants — all in a sickening effort to smother the voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people around the world.”
— Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, on the U.S. siding with anti-gay countries on a UN vote.

This is embarrassing. How low can we go? I’m almost speechless. Well, we’re the same forward-thinking, “freedom-loving” country that “doesn’t torture” either.

The United States joined with four of the world’s most repressive regimes to reject an application by two international LGBT groups seeking to join a UN agency that advises the world body on economics and social issues.

The application by the International Lesbian and Gay Association and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians was dismissed without a hearing. The groups had sought inclusion on the United Nations Economic and Social Council, a think tank made up of non governmental agencies from around the world.

The United States voted with Iran, Zimbabwe, China, Cameroon against granting a hearing for the application.

…President Mugabe of Zimbabwe has long scapegoated and persecuted gay men and lesbians. The recently-elected president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has overseen an anti-gay campaign in recent months, in which many young people accused of homosexual acts reportedly have been executed.

…”Apparently Iran, which President Bush has deemed part of the ‘Axis of Evil,’ is a suitable partner when it comes to discriminating against gay people,” said Foreman.

…The Bush-Cheney administration has also opposed women’s and children’s rights treaties, sex education, contraception and family planning in international forums.