The United Nations (UN) General Assembly is expected to vote on a challenge to a proposal to establish the first-ever post dedicated to LGBT issues, a challenge that is setting up what many believe is the most important vote ever on its homosexual agenda.

According to Stefano Gennarini of the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM), the challenge was made by the African Group which tabled a resolution two weeks ago challenging the legality of a narrow decision made by the UN Human Rights Council in June which established the first-ever UN bureaucratic post on LGBT issues.

“The 54 nation-strong Group said it was ‘disturbed’ by the incessant focus on ‘sexual interests and behaviors’ and asked that these notions not be linked to binding human rights law,” Gennarini reports in C-FAM’s Friday Fax.

According to Botswana’s ambassador, who presented the group’s challenge, “The African Group is strongly concerned by the attempts to introduce and impose new notions and concepts that are not internationally agreed upon.”

He called for the suspension of the UN post until further consultations could determine the legal basis of the mandate.

In response, countries backing the post rushed to defend it, saying that it would help reduce violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. These countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, all of whom said the post was necessary in light of the “scale” of LGBT violence and discrimination.

However, countries backing the African Group, such as Egypt, accused the UN system of giving prominence to LGBT rights over established and respected human rights obligations.

“Indonesia, China, and India were among the nations that voiced support for taking an approach to human rights that is respectful of culture, religion and tradition, signaling that they are likely to support the African Group,” Gennarini writes.

It’s expected to be a fierce fight because, as Gennarini reports, “This is Obama’s final chance to leave a lasting legacy for LGBT rights at the United Nations.”

He continues: “Seventy-six countries throughout the world prohibit sodomy. If all of them voted in favor of the resolution it would virtually ensure its passage. In recent times, however, U.S. diplomats have boasted that they are able to twist the arms of such countries to make them abstain in controversial votes or even vote against their own laws on sexual relations.”

This strong-arm tactic is precisely what Pope Francis has condemned, citing this kind of  “ideological colonization” which occurs when international organizations such as the UN force progressive ideologies on countries by tying it to much needed financial assistance.

During his return flight from a papal voyage to the Philippines in 2015, the pope told journalists about his own personal experience with this tactic. It concerned a public-service officer who wanted to build schools for the poor. She received the money, but on the condition that she insert a book into the curriculum to teach “gender theory” to children.

“This woman needed the money, but that was the condition,” explained the Pope. “Clever girl, she said, ‘Yes.’” As a result, the goal of the financiers was achieved, he said. “This is the [concept of] ideological colonization.” 

A UN General Assembly committee is expected to vote on the African resolution before Thanksgiving and again in December in the General Assembly Plenary. More than 50 countries have already signed an amendment opposing the African Group’s resolution.

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