gay rights a focus. Last fall she accepted an award at the Elton John AIDS Foundation gala in New York; the singer praised Mrs. Clinton’s efforts for human rights.” [New York Times, 8/29/14] CNN: “Clinton Aides Say She Regularly Raises The Issue In Meetings With Her Counterparts And She Has Instructed Embassies Around The World To Report On Violence And Discrimination Against The LGBT Community.” “Gay rights have also taken on a greater role in U.S. foreign policy. Clinton aides say she regularly raises the issue in meetings with her counterparts and she has instructed embassies around the world to report on violence and discrimination against the LGBT community and challenge laws that criminalize LGBT status or conduct.” [CNN, 12/6/11] CNN: As Secretary Of State, “Clinton Announced A $3 Million Fund To Support Civil Society And Non-Governmental Organization Activists Working On [Gay Rights], As Well As Enhancing Protection For Refugees And Asylum Seekers Who Are Being Persecuted Because Of LGBT Status.” “The administration will take treatment of gays into consideration when making decisions on awarding foreign aid…As part of the administration's effort, Clinton announced a $3 million fund to support civil society and non-governmental organization activists working on the subject, as well as enhancing protection for refugees and asylum seekers who are being persecuted because of LGBT status. Gay rights groups praised the effort as a significant step toward protecting the rights of gays and lesbians around the world.” [CNN, 12/6/11] …PROCLAIMED THAT GAY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS CNN: “U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton Challenged Nations Around The World… To Recognize That ‘Gay Rights Are Human Rights And Human Rights Are Gay Rights.’” “U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton challenged nations around the world Tuesday to recognize that ‘gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights,’ building on an order by President Barack Obama directing all U.S. agencies to ‘promote and protect’ the rights of gay people.” [CNN, 12/6/11] Secretary Clinton In December 2009: “Over This Past Year, We Have Elevated Into Our Human Rights Dialogues And Our Public Statements A Very Clear Message About Protecting The Rights st Of The LGBT Community Worldwide.” [Remarks on the Human Rights Agenda for the 21 Century, State Department, 12/14/09] CNN: In June 2011, The United Nations Human Rights Council “Passed A Resolution Supporting Equal Rights For All, Regardless Of Sexual Orientation” For Which “The State Department Lobbied Intensively.” “In what the State Department is calling an ‘historic step’ the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva Friday passed a resolution supporting equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. The resolution, introduced by South Africa, is the first-ever U.N. resolution on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered persons. It passed with 23 votes in favor, 19 opposed and three abstentions, amidst strong criticism of South Africa by some African nations…The State Department lobbied intensively for the resolution and Nossel says the U.S. was pleased to see African leadership, from South Africa in particular, as well as strong support from South America, Colombia and Brazil. The resolution also will commission the first-ever U.N. report on the challenges that LGBT persons face around the globe and Nossel says the Obama administration hopes it will ‘open a broader international discussion on how to best promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons,’ Nossel says… Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made gay rights a key focus of the State Department’s human rights agenda, expressing her view that ‘gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.’” [CNN, 6/17/11] Secretary Clinton In December 2009: “We Are Particularly Concerned About…Organized Efforts To Kill And Maim Gays And Lesbians In Some Countries That We Have Spoken Out About, And Also Conveyed Our Very Strong Concerns About To Their Governments…The Governments Need To Pay Much Greater Attention To The Kinds Of Abuses That We’ve Seen.” “Over this past year, we have elevated into our human rights dialogues and our public statements a very clear message about protecting the rights of the LGBT community worldwide. And we are particularly concerned about some of the specific cases that have come to our attention around the world. There have been organized efforts to