It’s been quite the busy few months for the Council for Global Equality, for its 32 member organizations, and indeed for LGBTQI+ human rights advocates around the world. Finally, after Pride Month, after IDAHOBIT (the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia), and all the other political developments of late, we have a moment to catch you up on what’s been going on.
Pride and IDAHOBIT
In June, the White House issued a historic Executive Order to protect LGBTQI+ youth and families, push back against the wave of discriminatory legislation being proposed at the state level, promote LGBTQI+ medical and mental health care, and combat so-called “conversion therapy.” CGE enthusiastically welcomes the Executive Order and will be working to support the Biden Administration’s commitment to end U.S. support for conversion practices overseas.
CGE staff and representatives from many of our member organizations attended the State Department’s Pride reception featuring remarks from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ Human Rights Jessica Stern.
In June, the State Department also updated its diplomatic guidance to empower U.S. embassies to support local marriage equality movements in countries where activists agree that such a victory is possible through legislative or judicial processes. Additionally, the White House issued new guidelines to protect transgender students.
Other IDABOBIT and Pride Month statements include:
- President Biden’s Statement for IDAHOBIT
- President Biden’s Pride Month Proclamation
- The State Department’s Commemoration of Pride Month
- The Pride Month Joint Statement from the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Global Equality Today 