The ten countries weren’t necessarily selected because they are the worst countries in the world for LGBT abuses. Instead, they are identified as the ten countries in which the U.S. has the best opportunity to influence change through diplomatic, political and economic leverage.

Hmmm. One would think, being that we’ve friggin’ been in Iraq for the past half decade the US would make some attempt there and Global Change might have given that some thought.

It’s incredibly disheartening that the US still remains mum on the treatment of LGBT in Iraq while, for instance, Australia where the Department of Foreign Affairs raised the concerns directly with the Iraqi Ambassador to Australia [Ghanim Al Shibli] and Australia’s Ambassador to Iraq, Bob Tyson, raised human rights protections for minority groups, including gay Iraqis, during discussions with the Iraqi government in February. But, no, the US sits and twiddles its thumbs as usual.