Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights: Reflections on Secretary Clinton's Remarks

Posted by Daniel Baer
December 7, 2011

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered a historic speech in Geneva, Switzerland entitled “Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights.” I was honored to be in the audience with activists, student, and diplomats representing countries throughout the world, when Secretary Clinton invited all people -- those who defend the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and those who have not yet embraced the fact that human rights apply to everyone, government officials and individual activists, and people of all faiths and from every corner of the world -- to come together to address "one of the remaining human rights challenges of our time" -- the challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in their pursuit of equal human rights and protections.

“We engage humbly with those with whom we disagree in the hope of creating greater understanding,” said the Secretary, acknowledging that “the obstacles standing in the way of protecting the human rights of LGBT people rest on deeply held personal, political, cultural, and religious beliefs.” And she called for a conversation about those beliefs, remarking that “understanding of these issues takes more than speech. It does take a conversation. In fact, it takes a constellation of conversations in places big and small. And it takes a willingness to see stark differences in belief as a reason to begin the conversation, not to avoid it.”

For me, part of the answer to overcoming those obstacles lay in simple questions the Secretary asked those opposed to gay rights to consider:


In the United States, our conversation about the human rights of LGBT people is still ongoing. But any individual who reflects with empathy on the questions the Secretary posed will recognize the responsibility to protect and promote the human rights of LGBT people lies with us all. As the Secretary pointed out:


In yesterday's speech, Secretary Clinton confirmed that protecting the human rights of LGBT people is a top foreign policy priority, both for herself and for President Obama. Indeed, earlier in the day, the President announced the launch of the first government-wide strategy dedicating to combating human rights abuses against LGBT persons abroad. Here at the State Department, I look forward to continuing our ongoing efforts to protect the rights of LGBT persons and to working with other agencies in making the President and the Secretary's vision a reality.

In my two years at the State Department, nothing has made me prouder than to see our country stand up and fight for American principles and ideals, wherever and whenever they are threatened. I am incredibly grateful to have witnessed this historic speech, and will work tirelessly to help us live up to its words in the years to come.

You can find a transcript of the Secretary's speech and more information on the U.S. government's engagement on the rights of LGBT people here.



December 7, 2011

Evan in Ireland writes:

I'd just like to thank Secretary Clinton for sending such an explicit, unambiguous and long overdue message to the international community. I'm from Ireland and have always held the Secretary in high regard. But, with this speech, the Secretary has cemented my respect for her. I felt she was not only talking to governments who deny their citizens their Human Rights but also the millions around the world, and in my own country, who are not as lucky as I am and don't feel comfortable or safe being themselves. It was a brilliant, and more importantly, heartfelt speech. I applaude the administration for the direction it is taking on this very human issue. Hoorah.

United States
December 7, 2011

Zharkov in the U.S.A. writes:

Saudi Arabia could use a little NATO "humanitarian aid" if it gives that poor Australian guy the 500 lashes for insulting Mohammed's associates, and that's hard to imagine considering the insultees have been dead for hundreds of years.

A spanking may be acceptable but 500 lashes is a death sentence, and if our "ally" is going to beat people to death for their comments, then what are we allied with? Thugs?

Isn't it time to impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia for this, and that "workplace violence" of 9/11 and 3,000 dead Americans allegedly done by 17 Saudi citizens and two guys paid by the ISI?

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