(C) U.S. State Dept This story was originally published by U.S. State Dept and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons are Integral to U.S. Foreign Policy [1] ['Nathen Huang'] Date: 2024-08 On June 27, 2024, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the Convening on U.S. Foreign Policy: National Security, Inclusive Development, and the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons Jessica Stern opened the Convening with a letter from President Biden, who wrote: “Protecting the rights and liberties of LGBTQI+ people strengthens democracy, enhances security, supports economic development, and protects public health—both at home and overseas.” In her remarks, Special Envoy Stern stated, “We convened this discussion to answer a fundamental question about good governance and foreign policy: how [to] protect the most vulnerable… in this time of enormous transformations for LGBTQI+ persons, a time when backlash and progress seem to co-exist.” Why is it so important that support for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons be integral to U.S. foreign policy? In his speech, Secretary Blinken emphasized the value of these efforts by reaffirming, “LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. And our government has a responsibility to defend them, to promote them – here and everywhere. It’s also profoundly in our national interest – and vital to our national security… to stand up for LGBTQI+ persons around the world.” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield concurred, saying: “Studies have found that greater inclusion of LGBTQI+ persons in emerging economies has been positively associated with a country’s economic development and its democratic norms; on the flip side, human rights violations… diminish economic output and provide a bellwether of democratic backsliding and of increased risk to other marginalized communities.” During her fireside chat with Special Envoy Stern, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai referenced discussions, sometimes difficult ones, that the U.S. government has with trade partners about internationally recognized human rights. To advance equality for LGBTQI+ persons, Ambassador Tai emphasized that the U.S. government must convey that inclusion, respect, and dignity for all—values fundamentally embedded in our diplomacy—are prerequisites to doing business with the United States. Counselor Clinton White from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also addressed the audience, affirming: “LGBTQI+ inclusive development is smart development, it’s in our foreign policy and national security interests, and it’s just the right thing to do.” For this reason, USAID centers inclusion of LGBTQI+ persons in its work to bolster the efficacy of aid delivery. What challenges do LGBTQI+ persons face in their advocacy and how do U.S. partnerships benefit LGBTQI+ civil society? A panel during the Convening moderated by Suzanne Goldberg – Legal Expert and Senior Advisor – brought together prominent civil society activists who spoke about the importance of visibility and support for LGBTQI+ persons in their respective areas of work. This included how U.S. support and recognition has significantly increased their access and impact with governments and how U.S. support for the adoption of the first UN resolution affirming the rights of intersex persons has helped to stress the urgency to intersex activists’ advocacy. During the conversation, Iceland’s Ambassador to the United States Bergdis Ellertsdottir also shared how Iceland’s contributions to the Global Equality Fund are a crucial part of its development assistance. In the second panel, National Security Council (NSC) Director for Human Rights Jessica Huber moderated a discussion between Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services; Jay Gilliam, Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator at the U.S. Agency for International Development; Kelly Razzouk, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy and Human Rights at the NSC; and Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. From her perspective advocating for domestically focused health equity, Admiral Levine stated that efforts to fight stigma associated with communicable diseases like HIV and syphilis promote healthier, inclusive societies valuing the well-being of all citizens. Special Assistant to the President Razzouk conveyed the importance President Biden places on leadership by the United States to deliver democracy for all people globally, including LGBTQI+ people. Assistant Secretary-General Kehris emphasized elevating diverse voices in the Global South to build a more inclusive community of leaders to disrupt the falsehood that championing equality and dignity for LGBTQI+ persons is a Western construct. Lastly, Gilliam reinforced the importance of considering the broad spectrum of development concerns including health, education, and reproductive rights that make LGBTQI+ inclusion more feasible. How does the Department of State support LGBTQI+ persons and what does LGBTQI+-inclusive foreign policy look like? U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti emphasized the importance of allyship throughout his long political career to advance equality for LGBTQI+ persons. Being a senior official of the United States in India, Ambassador Garcetti ventured, makes allyship all the more important, saying: “We… use diplomacy to amplify and to connect in both overt and covert ways… to see in every country where allies are… speak[ing] in ways that that go up to the boundary for them so that they can quietly say, thank you for letting us know we’re not alone.” Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya ended the day’s discussions with closing remarks. Speaking from her vantage point, Under Secretary Zeya underscored the importance of U.S. leadership and partnerships in pursuing an end to violence and discrimination, especially through key initiatives by the Bureaus of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Under Secretary Zeya stressed the Department’s enduring commitment to LGBTQI+ persons: “Our goal is clear: to build a world in which LGBTQI+ persons are able to thrive, wherever they live… [T]he work we do to advance and protect the human rights and full civic participation of LGBTQI+ persons matters for the well-being of our communities, our nations, and our planet.” Nathen Huang (he/him) is a Senior Advisor in the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.state.gov/the-human-rights-of-lgbtqi-persons-are-integral-to-u-s-foreign-policy/ Published and (C) by U.S. State Dept Content appears here under this condition or license: Public Domain. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/usstate/