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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took a bold step for U.S. foreign policy (and common decency) by declaring in front of the United Nations yesterday that it is a "violation of human rights" to commit violence or discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation. In a moving speech to the U.N.'s human rights group in Geneva, Clinton tackled many of the common stereotypes leveled at gay people and called on other nations to eliminate laws that criminalize or marginalize homosexuals.

Saturday is the anniversary of the passage of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, one of the true landmark achievements of the United Nations, which provided the opportunity for Clinton to challenge other governments to defend gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. She was quick to admit that her own country does not have the best record on these matters — it is worth noting that her speech quiet pointedly did not mention gay marriage — but announced new initiatives by the Obama administration to combat discrimination around the world, including a "Global Equality Fund" that will support human rights groups that protect gay people.