HOW'S THAT GLOBAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION INITIATIVE WORKING OUT, TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

I'm so old I remember this story, from last month:

The Trump administration is launching a global campaign to end the criminalization of homosexuality in dozens of nations where it's still illegal to be gay, U.S. officials tell NBC News, a bid aimed in part at denouncing Iran over its human rights record.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, the highest-profile openly gay person in the Trump administration, is leading the effort, which kicks off Tuesday evening in Berlin. The U.S. embassy is flying in LGBT activists from across Europe for a strategy dinner to plan to push for decriminalization in places that still outlaw homosexuality — mostly concentrated in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.

“It is concerning that, in the 21st century, some 70 countries continue to have laws that criminalize LGBTI status or conduct,” said a U.S. official involved in organizing the event.

When it was announced, I was a tad skeptical.

News editors, you may as well start planning the "Whatever happened to that global initiative?" stories now, because this is the first time we're hearing about this initiative and it will also be the last time. https://t.co/klIeG79Bah

— Steve M. (@nomoremister) February 19, 2019

How's it working so far? Not very well, judging from today's news:

Brunei could start whipping or stoning gay people to death next week when strict new laws are introduced, human rights groups have warned.

The tiny oil-rich nation already implements Sharia laws, with homosexuality punishable with up to ten years in prison.

But from the start of next month the government plans to amend the penal code to mean LGBT people and adulterers could be stoned to death....

Brunei first announced the measures in 2013 but implementation has been delayed as officials worked out the practical details and in the teeth of opposition by rights groups.

I see no comment from the U.S. government in this story or any other story on the subject, or on the State Department website or whitehouse.gov. I see no evidence of U.S. opposition.

The alleged initiative was obviously meant as a swipe at Iran and not much more, despite Grenell's claims to the contrary last month. It was obvious we'd never hear about it again. Now here we are, with a country that's not Iran about to tighten the screws on LGBT residents (and possibly execute some), with the Trump administration saying nothing so far.