On October 3rd,  the United States of America along with 12 other countries, such as Iran, China and Botswana, voted against a United Nations resolution that condemned executing those who participate in homosexual sex.

The United Nations Human Rights Council held a meeting to discuss whether or not punishing a homosexual person  to death should be made illegal as it was questioned as a violation against human rights.

On behalf of the Trump Administration voted to keep the punishment in effect. Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global told PinkNews: “Ambassador Haley has failed the LGBTQ community by not standing up against the barbaric use of the death penalty to punish individuals in same-sex relationships.”

When news was released Trump and the Trump Administration received backlash from both individuals and human rights groups. The Human Rights Campaign labeled the vote as “beyond disgraceful.¨

Susan Rice, former Obama National Security Adviser, tweeted ¨Shame on US! I was proud to lead U.S. efforts at UN to protect LGBTQ people, back in the day when America stood for human rights for all.”

Rice  tweeted this out on October 3rd soon after news of the vote was released in order to voice her embarrassment in the decision, as well as a host of other decisions President Trump has made. Rice helped to spread the voice of our LGBTQ community and their disgust in the issue.

The Trump Administration attempted to counter the issue by stating the death penalty was not necessarily a human rights violation. This statement further enraged the community and increased the outcry for equality.

“It is important to point out that a ‘no’ vote on the resolution is not addressing same-sex relations, but the wider application of death penalty generally,” said Andre de Plessis, Head of UN Programme and Advocacy at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.“The United States, for example, has the death penalty and has a consistent record of voting no on resolutions that are against it.”

The U.N Human Rights Council approved the measure with a 27-13 vote and 7 countries abstaining, but the issue has still become more than just the vote. The issue has broadened to the true embarrassment and despair of the LGBTQ community.