The Obama administration is announcing a wide-ranging effort to use U.S. foreign aid to promote rights for gays and lesbians abroad, including combating attempts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality

In a memorandum, Barack Obama directed U.S. agencies working abroad, including the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, to use foreign aid to assist gays and lesbians who are facing human rights violations. And he ordered U.S. agencies to protect vulnerable gay and lesbian refugees and asylum seekers. Obama's announcement is part of the White House's outreach to gays and lesbians, a core Democratic constituency. Since taking office, Obama has advocated for the repeal of the military's ban on openly gay service members and ordered the administration to stop enforcing a law defining marriage as between one man and one woman. However, Obama has stopped short of backing gay marriage, saying only that his personal views on the matter are evolving. Gay rights groups praised the order as a significant step for ensuring that gays and lesbians are treated equally around the world. With our current economic problems, you would think that Obama would be using that money to try to create jobs here in the United States rather than using it to help gays in foreign countries.