Africa leaders must respect gay rights: UN's Ban

[William769]

ADDIS ABABA — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in an unusually outspoken declaration on Sunday, told African leaders they must respect gay rights, an issue that is controversial in many African states.

"One form of discrimination ignored or even sanctioned by many states for too long has been discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity," Ban said at an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital.

"It prompted governments to treat people as second-class citizens or even criminals," he added.

Homosexuality is outlawed in most African countries and discrimination against gays and lesbians is rife on the continent, with South Africa being the only country that recognises gay rights and same-sex marriage, at least on paper.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gV1kCgi-EzI-hEAmBYU_BLOKVZtQ?docId=CNG.e3279cd8102c4774e58ea43a6d69de60.7d1

[mitchtv]

1. Good news

It's going to be a long haul. Viva South Africa

[xchrom]

2. du rec. & i managed not to post the same thing

after you did!

[William769]

3. Not this time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11373709

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11373741

[Fearless]

4. Positive news for one of the most backward corners of the LGBT world!