Today, HRC released the following statement after it was discovered that the Trump Administration has removed from the State Department website former Secretary of State John Kerry’s apology for the infamous “Lavender Scare” witch hunt in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as other content regarding LGBTQ pride month observances and the State Department’s Special Envoy for the Human … The State Department, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, is vowing to “use a broad range of diplomatic and programmatic tools and resources” to protect queer refugees and asylum seekers, fight against the criminalization of LGBTQ individuals, and “allow swift US responses to human rights violations and abuses of LGBTQI+ persons.” Review our country information pages for information specific to LGBTI travelers (under Special Laws & Circumstances). The U.S. Department of State … “launched two global funding partnerships – the Global Equality Fund and the LGBT Global Development Partnership – which have provided millions of dollars in assistance … to LGBT civil society activists and organizations” (emphasis added). It would also make permanent the State Department requirement to report on human rights violations against LGBT people in the future. Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad. An official website of the United States government, Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues, Office of the U.S. The office oversees the United States government’s efforts to support the human rights of LGBT people around the world. The Memorandum calls on the Departments of State and Homeland Security to enhance their efforts to ensure that LGBT refugees and asylum seekers have equal access … Some insurance companies have products specifically tailored to LGBTI travelers. Verify that any insurance you purchase will cover all traveling family members. The State Department is just one of several government bodies in the Trump era that has become more hostile to LGBTQ people, especially transgender people. 2016 United States Department of State report. The Global Equality Fund alone spent more than $30 million dollars in 80 countries. More than seventy countries consider consensual same-sex sexual relations a crime, sometimes carrying severe punishment. by Michele Kelemen . LGBTI travelers should take copies of important documents, especially when traveling in countries where legal rights differ from those in the United States: Travel insurance can cover your costs during emergencies, including in cases where medical evacuation may be required. A State Department spokesperson on Wednesday expressed concern over the passage of a bill in Uganda that would further criminalize consensual same-sex … Laws and attitudes in some countries may affect safety and ease of travel. The Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons is a position at the United States Department of State within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. The inclusion of the websites above on travel.state.gov does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of the U.S. Department of State. EducationUSA Interactive: LGBTI Campus Life | EducationUSA Jump to … Affinity Groups The U.S. Department of State encourages individualism in its workforce and offers several employee organizations to help strengthen and support its diversity. The Biden administration in February issued a memorandum that committed the U.S. to promoting LGBTQ rights abroad. Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative. When officials at the State Department began mulling the notion of creating a special LGBT envoy, there was some trepidation. Randy Berry, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons, is continuing “in his role under the current administration,” a State Department spokesperson said on Monday. State Department condemns Turkey's anti-LGBT rhetoric against protesters A woman gestures as Turkish police detain activists supporting Bogazici University students protesting the appointment by the Turkish government of a new rector in Ankara on Feb. 2, 2021. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for U.S. citizens traveling to, or living in, a foreign country. Tweet Share Google+ Email Share Google+ Email Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Enforcement Protections for LGBT Workers State Department expresses concern over anti-LGBTQ bill in Uganda By : Michael K. Lavers of the Washington Blade, COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL LGBT MEDIA ASSOCIATION May 6, 2021 Additionally, the Department of State has not verified the veracity of information included on those websites nor is the Department of State involved in updating the information on websites maintained by private groups or organizations. The United States is concerned about demonstrations at a Turkish university and condemns anti-LGBT rhetoric surrounding them, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Wednesday. Recommended Web Browsers: Internet Explorer 11 with compatibility view or Google Chrome. Many countries do not legally recognize same-sex marriage. The nearest U.S. embassy or consulate may be able to help if you run into problems overseas, especially if you feel you cannot approach local police or have had difficulties already. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Feb. 22, 2018, said LGBT and intersex issues will remain in the State Department’s annual human rights report that it will release later this year. The Defense Department … A State Department cable reviewed by The New York Times says U.S. embassies and consulates may now fly LGBTQ pride flags. Antony J. Blinken February 4, … Antony J. Blinken February 22, 2021. By Michele Kelemen • Apr 28, 2016 . Living Abroad with your Foreign National Spouse or Partner, Obtaining a U.S. Visa for your Foreign National Spouse or Fiancé, Registering the Birth of your Child Born Abroad. You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State. “The Department of State’s effort to cherry-pick human rights – in order to unlawfully deny the rights of women, LGBTI people and others – is a dangerous political stunt that could spark a race to the bottom by human rights-abusing governments around the world,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. Remarks to the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council. WASHINGTON – State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Friday did not say whether any of the $4 billion in aid the Biden administration hopes to use to mitigate the causes of migration from Central America’s Northern Triangle will go to LGBTQ rights groups or HIV/AIDS service organizations. He assumed responsibility for this new State Department position in April 2015. Visit our Traveler’s Checklist. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Legal protections vary from country to country. Many countries do not legally recognize same-sex marriage . Here are some pointers for staying safe while abroad: If You Need Help, Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 7:45pm Apr 28, 2016. For State Department's LGBTI Envoy, Every Country Is A Different Challenge . Coordinator for the Arctic Region, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Office of International Religious Freedom, Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Office of the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser, Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services, Bureau of Information Resource Management, Office of Management Strategy and Solutions, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, U.S. In 1953, years after the State Department began firing gay employees, Dwight Eisenhower instituted a nationwide ban on gay men and lesbians working for … The 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Consular Information Frequently Asked Questions, Insurance Providers for Overseas Coverage. of state nominee promises to resurrect Obama’s ‘special envoy’ for ‘LGBTI’ rights News By Victoria Gisondi ‘Fertility is not a disease’: How a medical miracle changed this… Legal protections vary from country to country. By Conor Finnegan support of initiatives that protect and advance human rights of LGBTI persons around the world The U.S. Department of State assumes no responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the private organizations whose links appear above. For State Department's LGBTI Envoy, Every Country Is A Different Challenge : Parallels Randy Berry says the U.S. is supporting activists worldwide, but is also aware of risks they face. For State Department's LGBTI Envoy, Every Country Is A Different Challenge. Press Statement. Last week’s Congressional notification that the Trump Administration has decided not to abolish the LGBTI human rights Special Envoy position was an unexpected surprise.