Today, the United Nations observes Human Rights Day, which was first adopted in 1948. This year, the day is dedicated to the right of all people to make their voices heard in public life and political decision-making. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice commemorated the day on behalf of the United States with a statement highlighting many marginalized groups, including the LGBT community:
Today, we pledge to live up to Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspirational example, for in far too many places human freedoms are still denied. As long as a family anywhere is tormented by a state-sanctioned killer; a peaceful agitator is hounded by a violent brigade; an artist is locked away for expressing what she thinks; an LGBT individual is harassed because of whom he or she loves; a community is beleaguered because of how it worships; a person with a disability is marginalized by those who ignore plain injustice; or a girl is threatened for having the audacity to pick up a book; all of our rights have been violated.