Muslim states block LGBT groups from UN General Assembly

A group of 51 Muslim states has blocked 11 LGBT organisations from attending a high-level meeting at the UN next month on ending AIDS, sparking a protest by the US, Canada and the EU.

Egypt wrote to the president of the 193-member UN General Assembly on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to object to the participation of the 11 groups. It did not give a reason in the letter, which Reuters saw, The Fuji Times reports.

Samantha Power, U.S ambassador to the UN, wrote to UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft and said the groups appeared to have been blocked for involvement in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy, according to The Fuji Times.

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