Gay Rights

International Gay Rights Group, Opposed By GOPers, Wins UN Status

Rachel Slajda | July 19, 2010, 2:07PM

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission today won accreditation from the United Nations despite Republican efforts to defeat the group's application.

As we told you last week, Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) wrote a letter to the other countries who sit on the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council -- countries including anti-gay strongholds like Egypt and Saudi Arabia -- urging them to vote against the New York-based group's application.

Their effort failed, and the resolution passed 23 to 13, with 13 abstaining.

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