Hillary's brief for gay rights.

• Author: Clinton, Kate
• Position: Unplugged - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

I want to live in the community Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about in her historic speech on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) human rights on December 6 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

The community where inspirational, courageous LGBT people lead the effort to bring the world to embrace human rights for all people.

The one where LGBT people spend, and sometimes give, their lives to achieve human rights.

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The one where LGBT people work side by side with those toiling to end racism, religious persecution, and sexism.

That community.

In her powerful speech, Clinton--and by extension the Obama Administration--integrated sexual orientation and gender identity into the international human rights framework. She made her case in plain, powerful language and debunked arguments against such integration.

First, to the notion that human rights and LGBT rights are separate and distinct, she said that human rights are gay rights and gay rights are human rights.

Second, to the issue that being gay is a Western invention, she said that being gay is a human reality.

Third, to the belief that religious and cultural values can justify violence against LGBT people, she forcefully asserted that violence is not cultural--it is criminal.

Fourth, she emphasized that though we are each free to believe whatever we choose, we cannot do whatever we choose in a world where we protect the human rights of all.

To the final question of what's to be done, Clinton noted that minorities cannot achieve full human rights without the leadership and commitment of majorities. She assured LGBT men and women worldwide whatever their circumstances that they are not alone. She urged nations to take leadership and committed the Obama Administration's will and wallet to the advancement of gay human rights internationally.

After my thirty-plus years of LGBT work, it was staggering to hear a full-on, forceful, no-nonsense brief for our human rights, not some pro forma rah-rah at an LGBT fundraising dinner for an applause line and campaign donation. The claim was argued not to the choir but to...