Charles Chauvel Rainbow Labour MP Charles Chauvel is confident four more years of the GLBT advocacy work of the Obama administration will continue to make a difference in countless lives across the globe. Chauvel says his work with The Global Commission on HIV and the Law has given him personal experience of the big difference it's made to have President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in their roles over the past four years. “Their insistence internationally that GLBT rights are human rights has made a difference to millions of lives, for the better,” he says. “Four more years of that advocacy, even with a new Secretary of State, will make that difference even more pronounced.” Chauvel says overall Obama’s victory signalled a great day for GLBT people. “Not only did the most pro-gay President ever just win re-election, but the Senate stayed out of conservative control, and several marriage equality ballots succeeded.” His colleague Maryan Street, who is currently in Burma, says she is delighted at Obama’s win and what it means for tolerance and diversity. She says his opponents tried to mobilise the conservative right wing who are anti-gay in their rhetoric and their practice. “I am particularly delighted at the success of Tammy Baldwin who is the first openly gay Senator to be elected to the US Senate. I have been following her campaign with interest and I am glad she can take up a Senate seat and also be succeeded by a gay man in her current position,” Street adds. “Obama’s win means that all GLBTI people everywhere will not go backwards. Let’s all keep going forwards.” Gay Green MP Kevin Hague agrees it’s great news: “But also a relief - the alternative would have been a disaster.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 8th November 2012 - 12:25pm