In an effort to promote equality for people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, the United Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO)is launching an event titled “Love Beyond Borders: Equality and Acceptance For All.” The UU-UNO, which was formed in 2008, is the only faith-based organization with a human rights advocacy program dedicated to sexual orientation and gender identity that has an office at the United Nations. During the event, the UU-UNO intends to remind the world’s most powerful policymakers of the countless LGBT people around the world who deserve equal protection from multi-faceted oppression.
The UU-UNO’s official mission for this campaign is “to bring together LGBT human rights advocates and allies to challenge and repeal dangerous discriminatory laws that place our brothers and sisters in harm’s way simply because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, to help promote initiatives to assist in promoting policies that will ensure equality and acceptance for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.” Specifically, the organization is targeting bullying in youth communities in a larger effort to create safe schools and spaces for young people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. The need for safe spaces impacts people around the world, not just youth. That’s why the UU-UNO and supporters preach love and acceptance for all. They are proud to lead and support various coalitions of faith and secular voices that strive for equality.
Through their efforts, UU-UNO stresses the need for all people to come together in order to shape a more tolerant, accepting, and positive world. The organization offers information concerning the progress and setbacks for global LGBT equality. The UU-UNO in particular works closely with the United Nations system and its agencies, such as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to advocate for LGBT equality globally. The official campaign launch will be at the UN Church Center, across the street from the UN headquarters, where supporters plan to declare to the world that the fight for equality is still ongoing and can be won.
GLAAD encourages all those committed to promoting acceptance and equality for all to join in the movement and help shape the future of global equality by attending and sharing this event, which will take place on February 17, from 6-9 p.m. The event will be held at 777 United Nations Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10017. Tickets are available for sale now.
