News (USA)

US, Chile put spotlight on extremist attacks on LGBT people

US, Chile put spotlight on extremist attacks on LGBT people
The two ambassadors said the objective of the meeting is to hear first-hand details of attacks against LGBT people.
The two ambassadors said the objective of the meeting is to hear first-hand details of attacks against LGBT people.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Chile are putting the spotlight on “the barbaric treatment” of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people by the Islamic State extremist group.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power and Chile’s U.N. Ambassador Cristian Barros Melet have invited members of the U.N. Security Council to an open meeting on Aug. 24 to hear from an Iraqi and a Syrian who have been targeted by the militant group for being gay, the head of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and others.

In a note to council members obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, the two ambassadors said the objective of the meeting is to hear first-hand details of attacks against LGBT people and the threat the Islamic State extremist group poses to international peace and security “through its targeting of groups most susceptible to attack.”

President Barack Obama has strongly supported LGBT rights and the decision to highlight the militant group’s attacks follows the June 27 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same sex marriages in all 50 states. Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet declared in April 2013 that she supports same-sex marriage and would seek to legalize it though that hasn’t happened yet.

According to a report in June by the U.N. human rights chief, at least 76 countries retain laws used to criminalize and harass people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, including laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships among adults.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Jack Black on marriage equality

Previous article

Pope advised to condemn marriage equality

Next article