The Sexual Diversity Network is seeking an explanation from the government for its abstention on an amendment to include protection of gay and lesbian rights in a UN resolution last week.

On 21 Dec, the United Nations General Assembly voted to restore “sexual orientation” to a resolution condemning extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, after it had previously been removed as a result of an Arab and African proposal.  93 countries voted in favour of the reinsertion of the phrase, while 55 were against and 27, including Thailand, abstained, reports say.

The group said that it had petitioned the government to vote in support of protecting of the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, but the government chose to abstain, despite the fact that Thailand became Chair of the UN Human Rights Council this year.

The group claimed that Section 30 of the 2007 Constitution in spirit protects their rights and prohibits any discrimination against them.

They claimed that Thai governments had never supported the rights of gays and lesbians at UN forums.  They also said that when they submitted a petition on 4 Dec 2009 to the Foreign Ministry to support France’s proposal to prohibit discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, a representative of the Ministry informally told them, ‘[Thailand] has to be careful about neighbouring Muslim countries.’

They said that Thailand’s abstention this time was tantamount to condoning ‘executions’ of those of a different sexual orientation or gender identity.

They plan to go to Government House today, wearing black in protest, to ask the government to explain.