What Were They Thinking?

You would think that at the very least they would elect someone who adheres to their Human Rights declaration.

Uganda's Sam Kutesa elected as UN General Assembly president
BBC News
11 June 2014

Sam Kutesa, 65, was Africa's unanimous pick for the largely ceremonial role at the UN headquarters in New York.

More than 9,000 people have signed a petition urging UN states to block him, and a US senator said it would be "disturbing" if he took the role.

In February, Uganda passed a law punishing gay sex with life in prison.

It would be "disturbing to see the foreign minister of a country that passed an unjust, harsh and discriminatory law'' preside over the UN body, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told the Associated Press news agency on Tuesday.

The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 2 says,

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

and sexual orientation and gender identity was added in 2011,

Historic Decision at the United Nations
Human Rights Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Human Rights Watch
June 17, 2011

(Geneva) - In a groundbreaking achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L.9/Rev.1).

The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brazil and 39 additional co-sponsors from all regions of the world, was passed by a vote of 23 in favor, 19 against, and 3 abstentions. A list of how States voted is attached. In its presentation to Council, South Africa recalled the UDHR noting that "everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind" and Brazil called on the Council to "open the long closed doors of dialogue".

Mr. Kutesa election to the presidency, even though it is largely a ceremonial post it still is a very visible position and his election is a slap in the face to the LGBT community.