U.S. to Use Foreign Aid to Promote Gay Rights

December 7, 2011

The Obama administration announced an effort to use U.S. foreign aid to promote rights for gays and lesbians abroad, including combating attempts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality and requiring U.S. agencies to protect gay and lesbian refugees and asylum-seekers, CNSNews.com reports. "The struggle to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States' commitment to promoting human rights," Obama said. Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel Action said the policy was "frankly offensive," noting that the administration was apparently ignoring the sovereignty of foreign nations by forcing them to change their principles. He added, "What about nations where Christians are driven out of the nation or executed?"