The United Nations will extend benefits to the spouses of gay staff members.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced in July that the United Nations would recognize the marriages of gay staff member for the purpose of benefits.
Thirty-seven countries supported a Russian proposal to drop the plan, but a U.N. General Assembly budget committee on Tuesday overwhelmingly (80-43) voted against Russia’s measure.
The U.N. previously only recognized the marriages of gay staff members if their country recognized such unions.
Under the new plan, the United Nations will recognize the legal marriages of gay staff members, regardless of whether their home countries recognize such marriages.
U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power criticized Russia.
“We must speak plainly about what Russia tried to do today: diminish the authority of the U.N. secretary-general and export to the U.N. its domestic hostility to LGBT rights,” she said in a statement.
by Carlos Santoscoy
Source – On Top Magazine
