A Speech Heard Around the World

There are speeches that give even the most cynical among us goose bumps; and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's International Human Rights Day address in Geneva on Tuesday, Dec. 6, was one of them.

The speech, which coincided with the release of a presidential memo that directed agencies that carry out American foreign policy to promote LGBT rights, marked the first time that any administration has specifically committed itself to combating LGBT human rights abuses abroad. Clinton unequivocally proclaimed that gay rights are synonymous with human rights. She also laid out a blunt choice for countries that continue to persecute systematically their LGBT citizens.

"To the leaders of those countries where people are jailed, beaten, or executed for being gay, I ask you to consider this: Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for," said Clinton. "It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear - I am not saying that gay people can't or don't commit crimes. They can and they do, just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay."

The United States' own record on LGBT rights is far from perfect as Clinton herself noted in her speech. Same-sex couples remain unequal under the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Children continue to suffer at the hands of classroom bullies who prey upon them because of their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. LGBT Puerto Ricans remain fearful of those who target them in their own communities. Clinton's own words, however, set a powerful tone that foreign (and hopefully domestic) LGBT human rights abuses are no longer acceptable in a civilized world.

Thank you, Madam Secretary!