US says it will speak out for gay rights anywhere in world, including in Pakistan

Washington, July 6(ANI): The United States has said it will continue to speak out for gay rights anywhere in the world, including in Pakistan.

On June 26, the US Embassy in Islamabad had hosted the first ever gay, lesbians and transgender (GLBT) pride celebration ceremony there, and assured the Pakistani participants that Washington would continue to support their cause.

A group of religious conservatives in Pakistan condemned the event, describing the meeting as "cultural terrorism" in a statement issued by Pakistan's largest Islamic party, on behalf of various religious groups.

US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland was told during a press briefing that there have been a number of rallies across Pakistan in protest against the US Embassy event, and asked whether the Pakistan Government has lodged a formal complaint with the US over that event.

"Not that I'm aware of today," Nuland replied.

"I think you know how strongly this Department and Secretary [Hillary] Clinton feels about these issues, that gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights, and that we will speak out for what we think is right anywhere in the world, including in Pakistan," she added. (ANI)