U.N. Committee Blocks Gay NGO

Antigay member countries successfully blocked the application of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for NGO consultative status at the U.N. Economic and Social Council.

The action Thursday rejected an application that IGLHRC filed with the committee three years ago, according to Reuters.

"Diplomats from Western nations that support gay rights complained that Egypt and other developing states that have been criticized by rights groups for discriminating against gays and lesbians prevented the committee from voting on whether to accredit the group, thereby leaving it in limbo," reported Reuters.

According to Reuters, "The UN NGO committee has 19 members, among them the United States and Britain, who supported the NGO. Among those who voted against it were Egypt, Sudan, Qatar, Pakistan, China, Russia, Angola, Burundi and Sudan. Turkey abstained."

Despite the vote in the committee, the United States and Europeans may still be able to push the U.N. Economic and Social Council itself to accredit IGLHRC.