article_snippet: India on Wednesday joined countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan to support a proposal moved by Russia denying staff benefits to gay couples at the United Nations.
article_snippet: Speaking against a proposal moved by Russia denying staff benefits to gay couples at the United Nations, US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said: “We must speak plainly about what Russia tried to do today… diminish the authority of the UN secretary general and export to the United Nations the United Nations domestic hostility to LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) rights.
article_snippet: ” the United Nations extended benefits to same sex couples on the basis of laws in same sex couples home countries.
article_snippet: India went with a proposal moved by Russia denying staff benefits to gay couples at the United Nations as India was based on India domestic laws on same sex relations.
article_snippet: the United Nations extended benefits to same sex couples on the basis of laws in their home countriessame sex couples .
article_snippet: But last year, secretary general Ban Ki-moon had moved a proposal to extend the benefit to all gay couples irrespective of their domestic laws.
article_snippet: The Russian envoy at the United Nations had strongly advocated in favour of extending the domestic laws to respect cultural differences of the members of the world body.
article_snippet: This is also perhaps the reason for India to back a proposal moved by Russia denying staff benefits to gay couples at the United NationsRussian .
highlights_snippet: India voted to support a proposal by Russia, to deny gay couples working for the UN staff benefits .
  