Freedom House Supports U.S. Legislation to Protect LGBT Rights

Washington

In response to the introduction of the International Human Rights Defense Act in the House of Representatives by Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-FL) and in the Senate by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), creating a special envoy for the human rights of LGBT persons, Freedom House issued the following statement:
 
“We support Rep. Lowenthal, Sen. Markey and the original cosponsors of this legislation for advancing the fundamental rights for LGBT persons” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House. “We’re pleased to see efforts continued in the new Congress to make the support of the LGBT community a priority in U.S. foreign policy. Basic dignity requires that no group of people be denied access to justice or be treated as less than human beings in full.  Bipartisan support to give the State Department and other agencies new tools to protect and promote the rights of LGBT people around the world is an encouraging step forward.” 
 
Background

The International Human Rights Defense Act would direct the State Department to:

• Create the position of Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Peoples, which would be responsible for all inter-bureau and inter-agency coordination of government efforts to defend human rights for the LGBT community internationally.
• Make preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against the LGBT community a foreign policy priority.
• Devise a global strategy to achieve those goals.
• Coordinate efforts to promote those goals with local advocacy groups, governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector.
• Continue to include a section on LGBT international human rights in the annual State Department Report on Human Rights.