Can the world’s nations finally decriminalize homosexuality?

UN General Assembly Acting President Ali Abdussalam Treki

I will have to admit my ignorance here but I did not realize that there existed on the world stage an organization interested in protecting the interest of gays and lesbians throughout the world’s nations. This organization is called International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (or IGLA). They have gone on record to express outrage at a recent comment made at a UN general assembly meeting by the acting General Assembly President The Libyan Ali Abdussalam Treki.

The back story first: Last December 66 nations got together in an attempt to pass resolutions that would decriminalize homosexuality in UN participating countries. This call to action has been supported by the Obama White House and many leaders throughout the Western World. Acting General Assembly President Treki went on to say before the UN that he considers homosexuality “unacceptable.” While he did not go on to say anything about the call to decriminalize homosexuality, the IGLA believes Treki is against this resolution. “Considering that the Declaration calls for universal decriminalization of homosexuality, one can only conclude that the new President of the Assembly of the UN is … in favor of criminalizing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex. The disturbing and serious implications of this attitude, which comes from who now heads the institution that is protecting human rights, all human rights-as the most sacred value, can not be overstated, “said ILGA in its statement.

IGLA goes on further to say “We call on the representatives of the States that signed the statement against the criminalization of homosexuality, but also voted for the election to the new position of Mr. Treki, to demand an explanation from the President of the UN Assembly by his words….”

Whether the IGLA gets its wish is unknown at this time but I applaud IGLA for recognizing that the basic civil rights of everyone should be followed and that if you are going to be a representative of the UN, a President no less, then you should recognize civil rights for all just not a selected few. Can the world’s nations finally decriminalize homosexuality? I think they can but it will be up to interest groups like IGLA to lead the way and draw attention to the plight that many LGBT people still face across the globe.

Thomas