Do you agree in general that american liberal media does use progressive issues and causes to "dogwhistle" progressives in support of US foreign policy goals? And if so, does that have any significance or consequence for progressives?
My attitude is this: If a legitimate gay-rights group puts in front of me a petition criticizing the treatment of gays and lesbians in some foreign country, and I think the petition is based on real facts, I'm gonna sign it. And I don't really care if the country in question is one that's on the shitlist of the US and its allies, and drawing attention to the injustice runs the risk of scoring a propaganda victory for imperialism. Depending on its mandate, a legitimate gay rights group has an obligation to help gays in whatever country they happen to be in, and I don't think the group should put a clause in their constitution saying "But if the government that's persecuting you is also being demonized by western imperialists, than you're just Shit Out Of Luck."
And, really, if the US and its allies are using your lousy record on gay-rights as an excuse to demonize you, well, you can always knock that weapon out of their arsenal by STOPPING THE PERSECUTION OF GAYS. Cuba did that a decade or so ago, and it doesn't seem to have led to Bay Of Pigs II.
And for the record, my current visa forbids me from getting involved in political activity, and fastidious i-dotter and t-crosser that I am, I include the signing of petitions in that. The last time I signed anything to do with gay-rights was in Canada, a petition criticizing Iran for the execution of those two gay guys a few years so ago. Obviously, Iran IS one of the countries in the USA's gunsights, but the petition was by the Raelians, who I kind of doubt are a CIA front.