Dec. 18, 2008: a grand new resolution is brought before the United Nations General Assembly by the French and Dutch Ambassadors. It declares that all people are born with basic dignity which ought to be respected and that this dignity applies to homosexual and transgender persons. It condemns the criminal penalties placed on homosexuality by many countries including India, Saudi Arabia and Jamaica. It also strongly denounces the tendency of the police and courts in many countries to allow lynch mobs against LGBT people to go unpunished or un-investigated.

All 27 members of the European Union sign, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Israel sign. Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba and Ecuador all sign. Even countries like Nepal, the Central African Republic, Armenia and East Timor which have very traditional and preindustrial societies signed.

Only one country in the civilized world was so callous, so backward as to deny that homosexuals ought not be jailed or executed. You guessed it, the United States of America.

Our fair nation and our then lame-duck-in-chief joined the likes of Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe in opposing the declaration. Mr. Bush cited possible legal obligation the United States may face if it signed the resolution and expressed concerns that it limited the power of the federal government.

But that was then, and this is now.
Mar. 18, 2009: President Obama declares his intention to sign the UN Declaration on Human Rights and Sexual Orientation.

In a statement, State Department spokesman Robert Wood has this to say: "The United States supports the U.N.'s statement on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity and is pleased to join the other 66 U.N. member states who have declared their support of the statement." Mr. Wood also went on to say that the United States would continue to remind other countries of the importance of human rights in all appropriate venues.

This announcement was hailed as a major victory for gay rights groups, and it has breathed new life into a resolution that had been treading water for months. But even with a powerful new ally, the resolution is still facing strong opposition.

The Vatican has voiced strong opposition to the measure, fearing that it may force countries to recognize same-sex unions or allow the adoption of children by gay couples. But although vociferous, the Holy See has been relatively benign in its opposition, stating that they "continue to advocate that every sign of unjust discrimination towards homosexual persons should be avoided."A more formidable opponent to the resolution than Rome lies in a counter-resolution backed by many Arab countries.

The measure, which is currently backed by 57 countries, claims that the European-backed resolution "delves into matters which fall essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states." Also a primary concern of the signatories of the opposing resolution was a fear that "deplorable acts" such as pedophilia and polygamy would naturally follow the "social normalization" of homosexuality.

In all likelihood, this resolution will not pass the general assembly without the support of Russia or the People's Republic of China, both of which are unlikely to back such a progressive civil rights measure.

It seems probable that this bold new measure against discrimination will remain nothing more than a symbolic gesture gone wrong, and a stark reminder of how far the world has yet to come in its recognition of civil rights. Its not much, but at least its something. One step forward, 1.999 steps back, just like its always been.

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