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66 countries have signed a United Nations statement in support of LGBT human rights which seeks to decriminalise homosexuality throughout the world.

“We urge states to take all the necessary measures, in particular legislative or administrative, to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties, in particular executions, arrests or detention,” states the document.

The appeal is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in Article One that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”

The document reaffirms “that everyone is entitled to the enjoyment of human rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

More than 50 countries opposed to the declaration, including the Vatican and members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference issued a statement suggesting that protecting sexual orientation could lead to “the social normalisation and possibly the legalization of deplorable acts” such as pedophilia and incest.

The USA is the only major western nation that refused to sign. France’s human rights minister, Rama Yade, called the USA’s decision “disappointing”.

Also denouncing the U.S. stance was Richard Grenell, who until two months ago had been the chief spokesman for the U.S. mission to the U.N.

“It is ridiculous to suggest that there are legal reasons why we can’t support this resolution — common sense says we should be the leader in making sure other governments are granting more freedoms for their people, not less,” said Grenell, who described himself as a gay Republican.

“The U.S. lack of support on this issue only dims our once bright beacon of hope and freedom for those who are persecuted and oppressed.”

The declaration is non-binding, but has historical significance.

“For the first time in history, a large group of member states speaks out against discrimination based on sexual orientation,” said Netherlands Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.

“With today’s statement, this is no longer a taboo within the UN. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is firmly on the agenda of the United Nations.”

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