Apparently George W. Bush doesn’t think Iran is so bad after all. The U.S. voted recently (Jan. 25, 2006) to support an Iranian sponsored move denying “consultative status” to two gay rights organizations … all this despite the fact that the U.S. State Department still thinks Iran isn’t such a great place to visit. So when it comes to Iran, W’s view apparently is “they’re right about the gays, just stay away from Tehran.”

In 2005, there were 2,719 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) accorded consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Add to that the 400 more NGOs accredited to ECOSOC’s Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and you have over 3,000 organizations around the globe that the Council believes are worth listening to.

The only organizations NOT worth listening to are the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians (LDL).