Should One’s Sexuality Outweigh Their Human Rights?

President Obama’s decision to withhold foreign aid to anti-gay countries has some up in arms

December 10^th marks Human Right’s Day and all week countries have announced ways to provide rights to all human beings regardless of race, class, gender or sexuality. Loop 21 spotlights three areas of debate within the fight for fair and equal human rights: LGBT rights, women’s Rights and the rights of prisoners.

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This week, President Obama announced a plan to confront foreign countries that exercise anti-gay practices and infringe on LGBT human rights. While on one hand this is a huge step for gay rights, it will be an area of contention for Obama detractors and may cause a strain in our international relations with countries that are anti-gay. But should it?

If you thought that America’s battle over gay marriage was tumultuous perhaps you should take a look at how other countries are handling their gay and lesbian communities.

Homosexuality is banned in some African and Middle Eastern countries and is even punishable with six months to life in prison. Some countries such as Uganda and Nigeria offer the death penalty for acts of homosexuality. Many of the countries in the Middle East and Africa that oppose homosexuality are doing so based on religious beliefs. In those countries that oppose same-sex love, Sharia Law, the moral code and religious law of Islam, calls for gays to be stoned to death.

GOP candidate Rick Perry sees President Obama’s plan as an endorsement of homosexuality.