UN Secretary General – No room for LGBT discrimination

Outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday. AP Photo, Julie Jacobson.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that there is no room in the 21st Century society for discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Speaking at the opening of the first high-level meeting organized by U.N.'s LGBT core group on the sidelines of the General Assembly Wednesday, Ban said he has been criticized by many people including U.N. member states for his advocacy of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, but it is a price he prepared to pay.

"Several countries are bucking the tide of history with draconian new punishments for being gay — or even just talking about being gay," Ban said. "These abuses will only end when countries take concrete steps to protect people."

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet attended the meeting.

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The Gayly – September 22, 2016 @ 10:20 a.m.