The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a landmark resolution for LGBT rights on Sept 26, the second-ever motion of its kind. Passed by a 25-14 vote margin after more than an hour of debate, it condemns violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity across the globe.

“We are pleased to see that today the international community is visibly and publicly upholding the rights of LGBT individuals, and thereby we demonstrate ourselves as a global community respecting the rights of all,” said Ambassador Keith Harper, who represents the U.S. on the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Still, since the resolution comes with no enforcement capability — it simply calls for a report from the U.N. High Commissioner on LGBT rights abuses — it will likely largely be seen as a symbolic gesture, albeit it one that the U.N. has largely failed to make in the past. This resolution is only the second time the U.N. Human Rights Council has referred to LGBT rights as “human rights.” Read More