Obama Appeals For LGBT Rights At Mandela’s Memorial

American President Barack Obama calls for equality during eulogy for Nelson Mandela.

He stated that, “…men and women are still imprisoned for…who they love.”

American President, Barack Obama, spoke at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service yesterday. During his remarks, he addressed that,

“Around the world today, men and women are still imprisoned for their political beliefs, and are still persecuted for what they look like, and how they worship, and who they love,”

Obama celebrated Mandela for his leadership in ending South Africa’s years of racial segregation. In 1996, South Africa became the first nation with a constitutional provision banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Mandela’s son died of AIDS related complications in 2005. Obama praised Mandela for his fight against the HIV epidemic, “…turning his family’s heartbreak into a call to confront HIV/AIDS.”

The memorial service included South African President Jacob Zuma, members of Mandela’s family, and closed with a message from former Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, a fellow LGBT rights supporter.

Watch President Obama’s remarks below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMJ0QSfugo

Source: Advocate

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