Gay group presses Obama to stand up to Iran

Source: WashingtonTV

A Washington-based organization representing gay conservatives on Wednesday released an online ad calling on US President Barack Obama to stand up for homosexuals by standing up to Iran.

“It’s time for action from this White House,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud. “It’s time President Obama stood up for gay people across the globe by standing up to the radical Iranian regime.”

The 80-second ad urges Americans to call the White House and ask Obama to stand up to the Islamic Republic and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The group points out that homosexuality is considered a crime in Iran and is punishable by death, and that all across the Muslim world, gays and lesbians are denied basic civil rights.

“Yet, President Obama refuses to stand up to Iran and refuses to speak out against their barbaric treatment of gays and lesbians,” said LaSalvia.

The group praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for speaking out against Iran’s treatment of homosexuals, during his address to the United Nations General Assembly last month.

“President Obama should know that his silence equals death for gays and lesbians in the Islamic world,” said Christopher Barron, chairman of the group’s board of directors.

“If the United States is to maintain its position of moral leadership in the world, then it should make it clear that basic human rights for all should be respected,” he added.

GOProud represents gay conservatives and their allies, and advocates for a traditional conservative agenda, according to its website.