In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, French President François Hollande urged the UN to decriminalize homosexuality around the world. Homosexuality is currently illegal in 76 countries and punishable by death in eight, including Iran, Mauritania, Sudan, Saudia Arabia and Yemen.
In his fifteen-minute speech, Hollande said that France must lead the UN’s fight for “fundamental [human] freedoms, which is not merely its fight but its honour.” Gay Star News reports:
“This is the reason for which the France will continue to conduct all these struggles: for the abolition of the death penalty, for women’s rights to equality and dignity, for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality, which should not be recognised as a crime but, on the contrary, recognised as a [sexual] orientation.
“All members countries have the obligation to guarantee the security of their citizens, and if one nation does adhere to this obligation, it is then for us, the United Nations, to engage it with the necessary means, to put it in its place.
“These are the issues that France will lead and defend in the United Nations. I say this with gravity, when there is paralysis, inertion, inaction, then injustice and intolerance can find their place.
“What I want this assembly to understand, is that we need to react, to take our responsibility … always react for sake of the people, together, this is the message of France.”
Though this is reportedly the first time a head of state has spoken out about homosexuality at the UN General Assembly, in 2008, Ambassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina read the General Assembly’s first declaration on gay rights. Spearheaded by France’s then Secretary of State for Human Rights, Rama Yade, the declaration also called for decriminalization of homosexuality and was co-signed by 66 countires.
The United States, as well as China, Russia, the Roman Catholic Church and members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, refused to support the measure. According to The New York Times:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The official American position was based on highly technical legal grounds. The text, by using terminology like “without distinction of any kind,” was too broad because it might be interpreted as an attempt by the federal government to override states’ rights on issues like gay marriage, American diplomats and legal experts said.
A staunch supporter of same-sex marriage and adoption, Hollande’s words have prompted speculation that France will lead the crusade for global decriminalization of homosexuality. The French government previously promised to legalize gay marriage by as early as 2013 with the introduction of legislation next month.
Photo: Wikipedia/Jean-Marc Ayrault
Dumdum
Those French you gotta love em ! Too bad that they think that most Americans are like Jethro from the Beverly Hillbillies. And unfortunately we do little to dispel that stereotype.J’adore le français, meilleure nourriture dans le monde. je vous remercie d’avoir été aussi ouvert d’esprit.
tidalpool
@dundun, most french envy us are business sense, and believe we have a cultural inclination to make money. Both are silly in point of fact, however le français sait le prix de tout et la valeur de rien. Je suis né alsation, la moitié de ma famille est le français et aucun d’eux n’accepte l’homosexualité. Ce n’est pas les gens parlants, c’est le politicans parlant. In the end, the people will always win…remember that much nez pais!
Dumdum
I know, but they are still kinda cute. Nez pias?
Dumdum
By the way. That’s Dumdum. Cause I ain’t too smart.
Rock Star
Although I am not French, this is one occasion where I would be happy to say, as in the SNL sketch “I am from France.” …. Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble.
Atomicrob
Vive la France!
KARUADAM
YES!! VIVA La France, good for you guys and you can show the fucking USA how to do thing right!!.
Andreusz
Anyone who believes, since the Rwandan genocide, that the UN has the slightest bit of authority or power is ipso facto unfit for public office.
Dumdum
@Andreusz: The point is that something IS being said.