Photo of the Week: Defending the Rights of LGBT People

Hannah Johnson serves as an Assistant Editor for DipNote.

This week's "Photo of the Week" comes to us from the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic and shows Ambassador Norman L. Eisen and a group from the embassy marching in the second annual Pride Parade in Prague on Saturday, August 18, 2012. The parade participants walked from Wenceslas Square to Strelecky Island accompanied by floats with music and dancers.

The United States is working throughout the world to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of all races, religions, and nationalities as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. On August 23, 2012, Spokesperson Victoria Nuland issued a statement on the arrest and harassment of gay, lesbian, and transgender activists in Zimbabwe. Spokesperson Nuland said, "The United States condemns the Government of Zimbabwe's violent arrest and detention of 44 members of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe on August 11 and a second raid by police on August 20. Several of these members sustained serious medical injuries from the attacks and were detained without charges. The Government of Zimbabwe has also targeted these same members' homes and singled out their families for interrogation and harassment.

"The United States stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe's civil society, including LGBT activists. We are deeply concerned when security forces become an instrument of political violence used against citizens exercising their democratic rights. We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to end this pattern of abuse and to eradicate the culture of impunity that allows members of the security sector to continue to violate the rights of the Zimbabwean people."

You can learn more about the Department of State's efforts to promote the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people here.

WAFUASI WA CHADEMA WAKISHANGILIA KUVULIWA UBUNGE KWA MBUNGE WA IGUNGA

JB hails ‘sober’ Malawi media on border dispute with Tanzania

President Banda, Vice President Khumbo Kachali and Foreign Affairs Minister Ephraim Chiume

Party cadres at a press conference

Journalists at the news conference

Official at the press conference

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda Atembelea Kijiji Cha Matumaini Cha Dodoma

Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda akizungumza na Askofu Mstaafu wa Jimbo la Dodoma Mhashamu Mathias Isuja katika shehe za kuadhimisha miaka 10 ya Kijiji cha Matumaini cha Dodoma kinacholea watoto yatima, Agosti 18, 2012.

Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda akisalimiana na Sister Rosaria ambaye ni mwanzilishi wa Kituo cha kulelea watoto yatima kiitwacho kijiji cha matumaini cha Dodoma, wakati wa sherehe za kuadhimisha miaka 10 ya kituo hicho.

Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda na Askofu Mstaafu wa Jimbo la Dodoma, Mhahamu Mathia Isuja wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja na watoto wa kijiji cha matumaini cha Dodoma kinacholea watoto yatima. Mheshimiwa Pinda alikuwa mgeni rasmi katika sherehe za miaka 10 ya kijiji hicho. Picha na Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu

MAKAMU WA RAIS DKT. GHARIB BILAL AJUMUIKA NA WAUMINI WA DINI YA KIISLAM KATIKA SWALA YA SIKUKUU YA EID MUBARAK KIMKOA, KATIKA VIWANJA VYA MNAZI MMOJA

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, (wa tano kushoto) Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya pili, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, (wa sita kushoto) wakijumuika na waumini wa dini ya Kiislamu katika swala ya Sikukuu ya Eid Mubarak, iliyofanyika katika Viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja jijini Dar es Salaam leo asubuhi.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, (wa kwanza kushoto) Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya pili, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, (wa pili kushoto) wakijumuika na waumini wa dini ya Kiislamu katika swala ya Sikukuu ya Eid Mubarak, iliyofanyika katika Viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja jijini Dar es Salaam leo asubuhi.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, akitoa salamu za Sikukuu ya Eid kwa waumini wa dini ya Kiislam, baada ya kushiriki katika swala ya Sikukuu ya Eid Mubarak, iliyofanyika katika Viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja jijini Dar es Salaam leo asubuhi.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, akiagana na Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya pili, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, baada ya kumalizika kwa swala ya Sikukuu ya Eid Mubarak, iliyofanyika katika Viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja jijini Dar es Salaam, leo asubuhi.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, akiagana na baadhi ya waumini wa dini ya Kiislam, wakati akiondoka katika viwanja vya Mnazi Mmoja baada ya kumalizika kwa swala ya Sikukuu ya Eid Mubarak, leo asubuhi. Picha na Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais

RAIS JAKAYA KIKWETE KATIKA SWALA YA IDD MSIKITI WA KINONDONI MUSLIM

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akilakiwa na Meya wa Manispaa ya Kinondoni Mstahiki Yusuph Mwenda wakati alipowasili katika msikiti wa Kinondoni Muslim jijini Dar es salaam kwa ajili ya Swala ya Idd leo Agosti 19, 2012

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akilakiwa wakati alipowasili katika msikiti wa Kinondoni Muslim jijini Dar es salaam kwa ajili ya Swala ya Idd leo Agosti 19, 2012

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwa miongoni wa waumini kusikiliza mawaidha kutoka kwa Sheikh Abubakar Zubeir katika msikiti wa Kinondoni Muslim jijini Dar es salaam baada ya ya Swala ya Idd leo Agosti 19, 2012

Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiagana na waumini katika msikiti wa Kinondoni Muslim jijini Dar es salaam baada ya ya Swala ya Idd leo Agosti 19, 2012

Mama Salma Kikwete akipeana mkono wa Iddi na kinamama waliohudhuria Swala ya Iddi leo Agosti 19, 2012 katika msikiti wa Kinondoni Muslim jijini Dar es salaam.Picha na IKULU