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The Straits Times, Mar 19, 2009

WASHINGTON - THE US on Wednesday formally endorsed a UN declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalisation of homosexuality, a measure that former President George W Bush had refused to sign.

The move was the Obama administration's latest in reversing Bush-era decisions that have been heavily criticized by human rights and other groups.

The US was the only western nation not to sign onto the declaration when it came up at the UN General Assembly in December.

'The United States supports the UN's statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 UN member states who have declared their support of the statement,' said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

'The United States is an outspoken defender of human rights and critic of human rights abuses around the world,' Mr Wood told reporters.

'As such, we join with other supporters of this statement, and we will continue to remind countries of the importance of respecting the human rights of all people in all appropriate international fora.'

But 70 UN members outlaw homosexuality - and in several, homosexual acts can be punished by execution.

More than 50 nations, including members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, opposed the declaration.

The declaration was also opposed by the Vatican. -- AP

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Source: The Straits Times
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