Equality California: U.S. Death Penalty Vote Highlights "abdication of any role advancing" Civil Rights

Los Angeles - October 3, 2017 –  In response to today's "no" vote by the United States on a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution condemning discriminatory use of the death penalty, including in countries where it is directed at LGBTQ people, Equality California executive director Rick Zbur issued the following statement:

"We are disappointed but not surprised that our country today once again chose to stand, not with other industrialized democracies, but with Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China in supporting a resolution that simply calls upon U.N. member states to not apply the death penalty in a discriminatory manner. As the resolution recognizes, the death penalty has been used disproporationately around the world to target the poor, foreign nationals, political dissidents, women, ethnic and religious minorities and LGBTQ people.

While the United States has failed to lead on the issue under previous administrations, today's vote highlights once again the Trump Administration's complete abdication of any role advancing LGBTQ civil rights – in fact, of civil rights protections of any kind, at home or abroad. "

Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org