Washington, D.C. (12/06/11) – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a bold and powerful statement at the United Nations in Geneva that the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are as central to the U.N.’s founding principles of equality as race, gender, and religious affiliation. National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s (NGLCC) co-founders Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell were among a select group of LGBT Americans invited to witness the groundbreaking speech and to meet with Secretary Clinton and U.N. human rights officials.
“As a member of the Council on Global Equality and the economic advocate for LGBT business owners and employees in the U.S. and abroad, we are honored to have been asked to be part of such an important moment in the lives of LGBT people,” said Nelson, NGLCC President. “From the Caribbean to Nigeria to Russia, LGBT people face not only a struggle for civil rights, but a terrifying persecution because they dare to exist. For these people, Sec. Clinton continues to be a beacon of light in a very dark time.”
Sec. Clinton’s speech anchors a year of unprecedented defense of LGBT rights by the Obama administration. In June, the administration supported a successful U.N. resolution, expressing “grave concern” at the violence and human rights abuses faced by LGBT people worldwide. President Obama also acknowledged the rights of gays and lesbians to be free of persecution regardless of whom they love in his speech to the U.N. in September. Today, Sec. Clinton compared LGBT people to other marginalized groups, and said:
“Many LGBT people have endured violence and harassment in the their own lives. We, like all nations, have work to do at home. But I come to you with respect, understanding and humility. Even though progress on this front is not easy, we must not delay action.”
“As the movement for full LGBT equality gathers momentum in the United States, we’ve seen a movement of hate and homophobia grow overseas,” said Mitchell, NGLCC CEO. “Last week, the Nigerian senate passed a bill that would criminalize same-sex marriage with a 14-year jail term; the government of Uganda is poised to pass a bill that could subject LGBT people to the death penalty. Even Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has spoken in favor of national legislation banning any pro-gay speech after a similar bill was backed by the city council of St. Petersburg.”
Nelson and Mitchell are committed to leading international efforts to expand business opportunities. Following a successful trade mission to Argentina in 2010, NGLCC will conduct the first official U.S. Government-certified trade mission to Colombia in 2012. In addition to campaigning for economic development, Nelson and Mitchell will promote the rights of LGBT people.
“With the repeal of the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy and marriage equality in New York in 2011, it should be very clear to everyone, everywhere that Americans will not stand for anyone being victimized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Nelson. “Sec. Clinton’s profound statement to the world sets the stage for global dialogue and a movement in the right direction.”
Nelson and Mitchell are available for phone and Skype interviews from Geneva. Learn more about NGLCC at http://www.nglcc.org.
CONTACT: Laura Berry, Communications Director, at 1-202-234-9181 or lberry@nglcc.org
About the NGLCC
The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) is the only national not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the economic opportunities and advancements of LGBT business community. With more than 29,000 members, 140 corporate partners, and 62 local, state, and international affiliate chambers, NGLCC is the largest LGBT business development and economic advocacy organization in the world.
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