Petrelis Files

Vid: Anti-LGBTI Speeches at UN Human Rights Council

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The UN Human Rights Council on June 30 in Geneva held a lengthy debate regarding creation of a SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, alias Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) Independent Expert with a three-year mandate and option to renew it.

For nearly four-hours, pro and anti arguments and statements were made. As I watched the anti-LGBTI speeches, it became clear a short vid of highlights of the arguments made against us and the expert was needed to more queers could listen to key points of the UN debate that led to an important advance on the global level.

This is what the delegates considered and voting results:

"Vote on Draft Resolution - A/HRC/32/L.2/Rev.1 - "Protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity' submitted by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Uruguay - ADOPTED (23 YES / 18 NO / 6 ABSTENTIONS)"

A guide to my vid. It opens with Mr. Choi Kyonglim, President of the Human Rights Council, stating the matter before the body then introducing Saudi Arabia's rep, Mr. Faisal Bin Hassan Trad requesting a "no-action" vote stating polarization will result and the expert could destroy the council itself if the pro-SOGI forces prevail.

Following him is Pakistan's rep, Ms. Tehmina Janjua, speaking on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, stating they reject violence in all forms but the expert position would ignore high religious sensitivity, is a confrontational approach, the proposal's language is offensive, no international treaty includes SOGI definitions or protections and concludes there are SOFI lifestyles on which there is no consensus.

A few more appearances by the Saudi rep, one in which he claims Islam has been about human rights for 1,400 years, mixed in with scenes of the Russian Federation rep, Mr. Alexey Goltyaev, speaking against establishing the expert position and spending UN money on it.

Next up is another Russian Federation delegate, Ms. Natalia Zolotova, talking about all the protections her country has in place to allegedly protect everyone's rights and how SOGI matters are personal choices.

We then hear from South Africa's Ms. Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko, reminding of her nation's inclusion of LGBTI rights in their laws but rejecting the expert because the process created acrimony so she was abstaining, then we hear from Mr. Mothusi Bruce Rabasha Palai of Botswana, saying SOGI protections are not in existing treaties and a concept of legal sensitivity.

Lastly, Namibia's delegate, Ms. Gladice Pichering, alleges no reports of violence against LGBTI people there and that such persons live freely and participate in the government.

The vid closes with the council pronouncing the results and applause breaks out. Watch this: