Foreign policy speeches do not typically give me chills. Not so with the speech that Secretary Clinton gave yesterday evening in Geneva on the evening of December 6th. Her remarks, which I was fortunate enough to hear in person, made a powerful, timely and truly historic argument for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
In its coverage, The New York Times led with the Obama administration’s declaration that it will be prioritizing LGBT rights in its foreign policy. Clinton described the U.S. government as an ally to global LGBT communities and shared a plan for a Global Equality Fund totaling over $3 million.
But Clinton made a broader statement, too.
As I listened to the speech, what struck me most was its emphasis on a shared humanity and the universality of human rights. At its heart, it was a fitting tribute to International Human Rights Day. By situating the human rights of LGBT people firmly in the realm of international human rights principles, the speech extended a historic call to action to individuals as well as governments.
A few key points: Read More
