When I gave that speech in Geneva and said that we were going to make this a priority of American foreign policy, I didn’t see it as something special, something that was added on to everything else we do, but something that was integral to who we are and what we stand for.”
Remind yourself, as I do every day, what it must be like for a young boy or a young girl in some other part of the world who could literally be killed, and often has been and still will be, who will be shunned, who will be put in danger every day of his or her life. I want you to leave this celebration thinking about what more each and every one of you can do…to make not only the agencies of our government, but our world more just and free for all people.”
— Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing the State Department’s 20th anniversary celebration of the Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) organization, via ABC News.
ScaryRussianHeather
How ’bout we start with calling out homophobia and misogyny right here on TV wherein MSNBC John Heilemann on Morning Joe calls Lindsay Graham a woman, and the table erupts in hilarity. THEN, Huffpo takes up the “joke” and the entire site continues mocking Graham with the assumption he’s gay.
I’ve been telling you guys that Liberals are the worst homophobes, sexists and racists of all but still no blog about THIS latest proof right here on Queerty.
They edited it out of their 8:00 replay, BTW. But no, really! It was a harmless joke, they ALWAYS edit harmless jokes out of their show
Dionte
Thank you Mrs. Clinton.
Wilberforce
She didn’t have to do this. It’s a measure of her fair mindedness, and of the affection she probably has for the admirable gay people she’s known over the years.
LHG82AD
With the probablity that Congressman Eliot Engel, a friend of mine for over 40 years
40 years, and the apparent Ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee our
agenda for LGBTQ rights as a major priority of US foreign policy will be in
good hands.
Samuel
While the SoS’s thoughts are very compassionate, she conveniently forgets that in her country, everday young gay Americans are being sold the garbage of repariation therapy which is nothing but killing of the soul….. Isnt this prioritization of LBGTQ rights in danger of falling into the pittfalls of historic US policy: preaching to the world, while practising similar sins at home….
LHG82AD
Hi all, Hopefully Bill and Hillary Clinton will read and heed what Frank Bruni says in this well written and pointed article. When I first started to read what Bruni had written I was not sure that his calling for an apology was what we wan…
t from the Clintons. Political reality was much different in 1996 than what it is in 2012. That does not mean that DOMA was good or ethical legislation just that it was based on reality and pragmatic politics 16 years ago. In his statement at the signing President Clinton said: ” I have long opposed governmental recognition of same-gender marriages and this legislation is consistent with that position.” At the same time he endorsed ENDA. He was evolving of our rights as gay Amercians. President Clinton grew up in Arkansas; not a progressive state and one which is in the bible belt. Bill Clinton was brought up as a Southern Baptist. It is quite often very difficult to shed years of conservative religious and cultural biases He has evolved over the years as has President Obama and as have most Americans. He now supports marriage equality. Hillary’s speech in Geneva demonstrates her evolution and her understanding of why marriage equality and LGBTQ rights are fundamental civil and human rights not only for this nation but for the entire world. I am glad to see that by the time he finished his article Bruni retracted his call for an apology. Indeed it is necessary that both Bill and Hillary Clinton now establish themselves as leaders in the fight for equality not only in marriage but in all areas where their is discrimination against the LGBTQ community and others. Not everybody can be born sensitive and understanding of what social justice and human rights are and that they are for all human beings. Another issue in which I would love to see Bill Clinton evolve is animal rights. I am very happy to see that he is not vegan but for health reasons and not for humane reasons. It is hoped that he will evolve and be a leader for animal rights. His daughter Chelsea Clinton is vegan for humane reasons. It is hoped that Bill and Hillary will join her. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/opinion/sunday/bruni-dear-president-clinton.html