Dear Sir/Madam,

During the week of November 15, 2010, the United Nations removed “sexual orientation” from a resolution pertaining to protection from extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Seventy-nine votes were cast in favour of this action, and 70 were cast against.

According to the United Nations’ website, the UN is committed to “maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.” As concerned global citizens, we urge the UN to consider the impact of this decision on human lives worldwide. To express that the UN defends human rights while withdrawing protection from a group of human beings who desperately need it in many parts of the world is a blatant contradiction to the principles that the United Nations says it stands for. If the UN fails to correct their error immediately, they are allowing hate-motivated murders to be committed on a global scale, and this is a crime against humanity.

The following individuals understand that it is imperative that members of the global community of all sexual orientations be able to live as they were born without having to face the possibility of death. We are not just GLBT rights advocates. We are advocates for human rights.

Yours sincerely,