NATO Secretary General marks International Day Against Homophobia

  • 17 May. 2017 -
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  • Last updated: 17 May. 2017 14:39

NATO marked the International Day Against Homophobia on Wednesday (17 May 2017) with a tweet by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. He said: “LGBT people everywhere deserve dignity, inclusion and freedom from fear. Diversity makes our open societies stronger and safer.”

NATO was a world leader in recognising same-sex marriage. The organisation extended equal spousal benefits to same-sex couples in July 2002, at a time when only one country in the world – the Netherlands – recognised same-sex marriage. 

NATO is committed to diversity. Organisation policy strictly forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as sex, race or ethnic origin, religion, nationality, disability, or age.