Obama urged to highlight LGBT rights during Africa summit

Obama urged to highlight LGBT rights during Africa summit

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Advocates have urged President Obama to highlight LGBT rights during an upcoming summit with African heads of state in D.C. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key).

More than a dozen advocacy organizations on Friday urged President Obama to highlight LGBT rights during an upcoming Africa summit that will take place in D.C. early next month. “Unfortunately, across much of the African continent today, the contributions of LGBT communities are denied
 or denigrated; their relationships and organizations are criminalized,” wrote the organizations that include the Council for Global Equality, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Amnesty International in a letter to Obama. “Hostile political rhetoric seeks to deny their rightful place in African society.” Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is among those who are expected to attend the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that will take place at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington between Aug. 4-6. Obama is scheduled to speak at the summit on Aug. 5 before the White House hosts a dinner in honor of the gathering. “Given how some African governments deny the rights of their LGBT citizens, and the unique role that civil society plays in defending those rights, we urge you to include civil society voices in the official meeting of African leaders during the summit,” reads the letter from the LGBT advocacy groups. 

- See more at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/07/25/obama-urged-highlight-lgbt-rights-africa-summit/#sthash.bK33llWx.dpuf