It Should NEVER be a Crime to be Gay

Hillary Clinton gave a speech on Human Rights Day. Here are a few of the highlights:

• "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. And with the declaration, it was made clear that rights are not conferred by government; they are the birthright of all people. It does not matter what country we live in, who our leaders are, or even who we are. Because we are human, we therefore have rights. And because we have rights, governments are bound to protect them."
• "No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity."
• "Being gay is not a Western invention; it is a human reality."
• "Violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal."
• "Progress comes from being willing to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. We need to ask ourselves, 'How would it feel if it were a crime to love the person I love? How would it feel to be discriminated against for something about myself that I can out change?'"
• "Leadership, by definition, means being out in front of your people when it is called for. It means standing up for the dignity of all your citizens and persuading your people to do the same. It also means ensuring that all citizens are treated as equals under your laws, because let me be clear - I am not saying that gay people can't or don't commit crimes. They can and they do, Just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable, but it should never be a crime to be gay."
• "There is a phrase that people in the United States invoke when urging others to support human rights: 'Be on the right side of history.' The story of the United States is the story of a nation that has repeatedly grappled with intolerance and inequality."
• "Let us be on the right side of history, for our people, our nations, and future generations, whose lives will be shaped by the work we do today."

This is such an inspiring video to watch. Good for him!

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what your sexuality, religion, race, sexuality identity, or culture is. What matters is what you have to bring to the table. What can you do to make a difference? What can you do to make our world a better place?