The Congressional Race to Chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee

The Council for Global Equality, together with its leading human rights membership organizations, released a public letter today calling on House Democrats to vote for a new Congressional Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee who will restore U.S. human rights commitments and promote the rights of LGBTIQ+ persons globally.  The Chair should be ready to lead the development and oversight of a progressive, principled, rights-driven foreign policy that includes urgently needed attention to the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people abroad.

The letter asks the candidates for the committee chairmanship to pledge support for LGBTIQ+ equality at home and abroad by demonstrating a commitment to six core principles:

• America’s commitment to advancing democratic and human rights precepts must be restored and must be pursued in partnership with other like-minded allies.
• Our country’s foreign policy must embrace LGBTIQ+- and gender-inclusive human rights.
• LGBTIQ+-inclusive immigration and asylum policies must be strengthened.
• Our development and health assistance programs must holistically incorporate LGBTIQ+ populations.
• The Administration’s public servants must be representative of America’s diversity.  
• The Foreign Affairs Committee’s oversight functions must be marshalled to ensure the effectiveness of our human rights policies and programs.

The Council and its members look forward to hearing detailed plans from the three leading candidates for Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee describing how they would advance these core American values in the next Congress. Based on his campaign pledges, we are pleased that President-elect Biden and his administration stand ready to work with the new Chair to secure these value and advance equality for LGBTIQ+ people everywhere.

Read the full letter here.