Sunday, January 29, 2012

Kentucky Equality Federation today urged the Kentucky House of Representatives and the Kentucky Senate to make gay and lesbian civil rights in the current legislation session and to heed to warning given by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"The leader of the United Nations and ultimately the leader for a peaceful world is calling on all States to recognize gay and lesbian people as equals," state Kentucky Equality Federation President Jordan Palmer. "The Secretary-General works worldwide and supervises a staff of more 45,000 people and is responsible for administering worldwide peacekeeping operations, resolving international disputes, economic development, world health, and spokesman for the interests of the world's peoples, yet he has made clear that sexual orientation and gender identity are at the top of his Administrations priorities. The Kentucky House and Senate would be wise to heed his warnings and positions."

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made clear from the beginning the protecting gay and lesbian people is a priority for his administration.

In September 2010, the Secretary General stated:

The responsibilities of the United Nations and the obligations of States are clear. No-one, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. No-one should be prosecuted for their ideas or beliefs. No-one should be punished for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

On Sunday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that laws against homosexuality violate the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Let me mention one form of discrimination that has been ignored or even sanctioned by many States for far too long, discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens, or even criminals," he said. "Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration."

United Nations member States must abide by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights or face prosecution from the United Nations International Criminal Court, or the United Nations International Court of Justice.

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