President Barack Obama, speaking today at the United Nations General Assembly, urged world leaders to support the rights of gays and lesbians, according to AMERICAblog Gay, which quoted the relevant part of his speech:

And to make sure our societies reach their potential, we must allow our citizens to reach theirs. No country can afford the cancer of corruption. Together, we must harness the power of open societies and open economies. That is why we have partnered with countries from across the globe to launch a new partnership on Open Government that helps ensure accountability and empower their citizens. No country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere. And no country can realize its potential if half its population cannot reach theirs. This week, the United States signed a new Declaration on Women’s Participation. Next year, we should each announce the steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress demands.

The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly began this week with the newly-elected president of the General Assembly, Ali Treki, dampening hopes for action on LGBT issues. Following his statement opening the session, Treki was asked about a movement seeking to universally decriminalize homosexuality. PinkNews reports his response:

“That matter is very sensitive, very touchy. As a Muslim, I am not in favour of it . . . it is not accepted by the majority of countries. My opinion is not in favour of this matter at all. I think it’s not really acceptable by our religion, our tradition.

“It is not acceptable in the majority of the world. And there are some countries that allow that, thinking it is a kind of democracy . . . I think it is not,” he added.

Sixty-six countries have joined together in a bid to end to the criminalization of homosexuality worldwide.  More than 80 nations punish homosexual activity.

In a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice yesterday, a bipartisan group of members of Congress asked the Ambassador to extend benefits to American LGBT employees of the United Nations.

The letter, signed by openly gay Reps. Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, and Jared Polis and dozens of straight allies, asks the Ambassador to provide benefits similar to those outlined by President Obama in a memorandum he signed in June extending certain benefits to domestic partners of federal employees, as well as those extended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in May.

The letter reads in part:

“In light of President Obama’s Memorandum, as well as Secretary Clinton’s steadfast committement to ensuring LGBT federal employees at the Department of State are treated equally, we hope that you will continue this promise and enable American employees at the UN to designate their same-sex partners as domestic partners. These individuals lead dedicated lives of service, and deserve the opportunity to provide for their families.”

The full text of the letter to Ambassador Susan Rice can be found here.

The United States has reversed its position on a formal stance by the United Nations to universally decriminalize homosexuality.

Last December, the UN General Assembly held a symbolic vote on a thirteen-point resolution “to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention.” At the time, Bush officials did not support the resolution, citing legal technicalities.

However, at the the “Durban Review Conference” currently underway in Geneva, the new Obama administration has come out in support of a policy against “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.”

United Nations Dispatch reports:

According to UN Watch, “The Czech Republic on behalf of the E.U., with the support of New Zealand, the United States, Colombia, Chili on behalf of the South American states, the Netherlands, Argentina and a few others, took the floor in support.”

The efforts to include language on discrimination based on sexual orientation ended up failing for lack of support from non-western countries. Still, it’s relieving to see that the United States is now back on the side of the enlightened on this issue of basic human rights.