Hillary Clinton Condemns Antigay Uganda Bill

Hillary Clinton X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton laid out the Administration's vision for human rights in a wide-ranging speech Monday at Georgetown University and specifically referenced the antigay Uganda bill that would carry a death sentence for committing certain acts of homosexuality.

"We cannot separate our democracy, human rights, and development agendas," Clinton said, "they are mutually reinforcing and united in service of a common purpose - to create a world where all people have the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential."

In reference to Uganda, Clinton said, "Governments should be expected to resist the temptation to restrict freedom of expression when criticism arises, and be vigilant in preventing law from becoming an instrument of oppression, as bills like the one under consideration in Uganda to criminalize homosexuality would do. "

Full text of the Clinton's speech as prepared for delivery below:

WASHINGTON, DC
DECEMBER 14, 2009

Thank you Jasdeep, Dean Lancaster, and President DeGioia for that kind introduction and thank you for having me here today.

There is no better place than Georgetown University to talk about human rights. President DeGioia, the administration, and the faculty embody the university’s long tradition of supporting free expression and free inquiry and the cause of human rights around the world.

I know that President DeGioia himself has taught a course on human rights, as well as one on the ethics of international development with one of my old colleagues, Carol Lancaster. And I want to commend the faculty, who are helping to shape our thinking on human rights, conflict resolution, development and related subjects; and the university community overall, including the students, for working to advance interreligious dialogue, for giving voice to many advocates and activists working on the front lines of the global human rights movement through the Human Rights Institute at the law school and other programs; and for the opportunities you provide for students to work in a fine international women’s rights clinic.

All of these efforts reflect the deep commitment of the Georgetown administration, faculty, and students here to this cause. Thank you.

Today I want to speak to you about the Obama administration’s human rights agenda for the 21st century. It is a subject on the minds of many people who are eager to hear our approach, and understandably so. It is a crucial issue that warrants our energy and attention.

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Reader Comments

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Name: Joseph
Date posted: 12/15/2009 3:05:02 PM
Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Comment:
Roger, I'll remind you that Obama (in 1996) supported FULL marriage rights for same-sex couples. Somehow, he morphed from that position to his current much weaker view. Most people tend to go from a position of limited support to expansive support (as so many have commented--"let's get civil unions now, then work towards marriage") but not our current Presidont. In fact, IMS, Obama has also stated that he believes a marriage should be between a man and a woman BECAUSE OF HIS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. (Maybe that explains why the homophobe Rick Warren got the plum televised gig at the Inauguration while the gay cleric got shafted--and not in the good way.)
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Name: Joseph
Date posted: 12/15/2009 2:57:37 PM
Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Comment:
Oh, please, Roger. When Hillary (as was her right) refused to concede to Obama after Super Tuesday--going against virtually the WHOLE of the Democratic Party--she was constantly attacked as being "unelectable" and "divisive". Then, amazingly, on Election Day, Obama won (though almost none of the many "red states" that he managed to win in the primaries and caucuses which his supporters vowed he would be able to win)--and by a fairly hefty margin. The simple fact is that 2008 was supposed to be the year that ANY Democrat would win. But the anti-Clinton Democrats wouldn't accept Hillary as the Candidate (much less the President). AND let's not forget that, when asked, Michelle Obama said she didn't think she could support Hillary as the Democratic nominee, while Hillary remained a firm Democrat (even stumping for Obama far more vigorously than Obama himself).
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Name: Kevin
Date posted: 12/15/2009 3:20:23 AM
Hometown: Ft. Myers

Comment:
Phillip, spare us the semantics. This issue is not about agreement or disagreement, it's about the fact that gay people (and gay couples) deserve the same rights that straight people (and straight couples) currently enjoy under state and federal law. You can "disagree" with the Equal Protection Clause all you want, and still remain in America. But please note that, in the end, the courts will not have to come to the same discriminatory conclusion that you have come to.
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Name: anteros
Date posted: 12/15/2009 2:21:43 AM
Hometown: Kampala

Comment:
Thank you, Mrs. Clinton. Thank you very much.
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Name: Phillip
Date posted: 12/15/2009 2:17:03 AM
Hometown: Reseda

Comment:
So little Melissa from Springfield says we're all connected but thinks I should leave America because she doesn't agree with me. Maybe it's the United States Of Missy that she was thinking of, where everybody thinks the way she does.
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Name: Michael Bussee
Date posted: 12/15/2009 1:09:17 AM
Hometown: Riverside California

Comment:
I applaud Secretary Clinton for taking this stand. She mentioned Facebook acitvism in her address. Please join over 11,000 Facebook members who have spoken out against this Bill. Step up. Speak out. Kill the Bill. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=198541255168&ref=mf
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Name: Carol
Date posted: 12/14/2009 10:51:31 PM
Hometown: MO

Comment:
Did all you anti-gay people read Secretary of State Hillary Clintons nine pages about Human Rights???? Bet you didn't. You only read the Bible. Would you understand and comprehend what she said if you even read it?? Bet you couldn't. So what you say doesn't matter. Human rights will win out, and Equality for our GLBT will win out before most of the great paths that H. C. said Human Rights will take. Human Rights are not so important in the worlds future as our childrens rights are right in this country of America. America can start right where it sits, and get busy!
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Name: Roger
Date posted: 12/14/2009 10:35:49 PM
Hometown: NYC

Comment:
Wow, Phillip, I think you forgot to add into your equation that if we had nominated Hillary we would now have a President McCain and a Vice President Palin in office. Oh, and let's not forget that that oh so forgotten Federal Marriage Amendment would be back on the ballot. So go right ahead and forget that Hillary is President Obama's mouthpiece on as the Secretary of State and wouldn't be saying this if he didn't approve. It's not your fault really. The Advocate loves glowing articles of Hillary, but not so glowing ones of Obama. Hey Advocate, could you reprint that article where Hillary says she supports gay marriage during the campaign? What's that? She said she think's marriage is between a man and a woman? Who knew?
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Name: Melissa
Date posted: 12/14/2009 6:37:25 PM
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio

Comment:
@ phillip...America voted for our current President. If you are a true American and live here in the United States, BUCK UP and let your awful comments about YOUR President stay in YOUR head. Better yet, just leave the United States of America and go somewhere else. Maybe you will show more respect to a foreign President in another country.
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Name: Jonathon Miller
Date posted: 12/14/2009 6:33:42 PM
Hometown: NYC

Comment:
I believe civil rights should be a simple matter. If I pay full civil taxes I should have full civil rights. A non-tax paying church should not dictate civil law. They can refuse to marry same sex couples in their church. Period. Personal feelings are important, but so are personal freedoms. When President Obama said he personally does not believe in same sex marriage but would support civil unions - "which give almost the same rights as marriage" - I wondered if he would have been satisfied with a statement from Dr. Martin Luther King stating "almost equal rights" was acceptable in the fight for racial equality. Equality is equality, not almost equal. Perhaps is should again not be legal for blacks and whites to marry. Perhaps women should again not have the right to vote. Where does "almost equal" begin and end? With me, or you?

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