Emails reveal Hillary Clinton ‘pushed Obama administration’ to take on anti-gay laws in Africa
Newly-released emails from Hillary Clinton have revealed she pushed the Obama administration to take a harder stance on anti-gay laws in Africa – and reveal her excitement to be honoured at World Pride.
Hillary Clinton served as US Secretary of State from 2008 until 2012. The State Department is continuing to release batches of non-classified emails from her time as Secretary, after controversy surrounding her use of a private email server.
An email released this week from the Clinton server showed that one year into her job, Clinton was pushing for a more proactive stance on global LGBT rights after a confrontation between her and the Ugandan President.
A meeting summary emailed to Clinton in December 2009 confirms: “Cheryl [Mills, Clinton Chief of Staff] noted that she had raised with Johnnie Carson [African Affairs Secretary] the need to look at what anti-gay laws other African countries, besides Uganda, had adopted or were considering.
“In the subsequent Deputies Meeting, Johnnie noted the proposed draconian legislation in Uganda as well as the Secretary’s intervention with Museveni.
“He indicated he would send a message to all our African posts asking them to report on similar legislation or efforts in their countries and to provide their thoughts on a strategy, including public diplomacy efforts, to counter this trend.”
Other emails reveal the excitement of Clinton and her staff to be honoured at London’s 2012 World Pride festival.
It came after Secretary Clinton’s landmark speech to the UN in Geneva in July 2012, when she urged world leaders to be “on the right side of history” on LGBT rights.
Diplomat Ken Kero-Mentz had emailed Secretary Clinton’s office to ask what she would like done with the tribute artwork, which was in the US Embassy, featuring “the words of her speech sewn in to the flag”.
An email chain shows a picture of the artwork was then shared with Clinton and the staffers who contributed to the speech.
Clinton speechwriter Megan Rooney replied: “This is kind of neat”, while foreign policy adviser Jacob Sullivan responded: “Very cool.”
Hillary Clinton herself responded to the chain among her staff, suggesting they all go and see the artwork on her next trip to London.
She wrote: “If I go back to London I could do photo. Then we have to decide what to do w it.”
Huma Abedin, the chair of Clinton’s Presidential campaign, responded: “pretty amazing. we should frame it and hang it somewhere!”
Clinton has attracted scrutiny over her gay rights record during her current Presidential campaign, after attacks from rival Bernie Sanders.
Though Clinton has won support from most major LGBT organisations for her LGBT policy manifesto, Mr. Sanders has decried the groups as part of the “establishment”. He also claimed that Clinton “insulted the entire gay community” on the issue, as her husband signed the anti-LGBT Defence of Marriage Act into law as a compromise with Republicans.
Mrs. Clinton did not endorse same-sex marriage until 2013 – after she concluded her term as Secretary of State. Senator Sanders backed it in 2009.
About author
You might also like
Gay guys talk about what anyone with unlimited access to their phones would find
Cell phones are a reflection or even an extension of us, so you could really get to know a person if you had his passcode. A Redditor recently asked other
Brad & Angelina’s Daughter, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Gets New Hairdo In Awesome Transformation Amid Gender Dysmorphia
One of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s kids is in the news again. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt is hardly unrecognizable, thanks to a new hairdo. The couple’s 9-year-old daughter is following in
Traditional leaders in Edo State reportedly take action against Homosexuality
Traditional rulers in Egor local government area of Edo State were reported to have placed curses on homosexuals and same-sex marriages in an effort to curb increase in the rate
9 Comments
Kenny
February 22, 06:41Hillary Clinton all the way! I’m rooting for her.
bruno
February 22, 07:28to be honest, i think international pressure is the fastest way to get these antigay laws changed.
Jamie
February 22, 08:29Yes! Cos dialogue is so out of question…
bruno
February 22, 10:55lol. “dialog” he said.
Max 2.1
February 22, 10:11Dialogue has been tried and tested. Will never work with these people since their head is sunk in religion. So I agree international pressure is the way.
Khaleesi
February 22, 09:19Admirable!! But i still dont think a change to the laws will do much in this part of the world, to start with, law enforcement is very weak in these parts, and the changed laws will do little or nothing to remove the hatred and religion inspired bigotry that’s so widespread around here …
Max 2.1
February 22, 10:14@Khalee, let them remove the law first, @least I won’t have to answer to the police if I’m holding hands with bae on the road.
grass
February 22, 11:30hahahaha!!! max! walking with bae alone people look at u awkwardly, imagine holding hands?
Max 2.1
February 22, 12:57As long as I’m not seen as “breaking the law” while walking, I’m fine with being looked at.