Does The U.S. Need A Special Envoy To Protect The International LGBTQ Community? (S. 302)

What is S. 302?

(Updated October 23, 2019)

This bill calls for the creation of a global foreign policy strategy to protect the human rights of people in the LGBTQ community across the globe. 

People in the LGBTQ community — Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer — would be appointed a Special Envoy in the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. The Special Envoy would be responsible for inter-bureau and inter-agency coordination of the government’s efforts to defend human rights for the LGBT community internationally.

The bill also authorizes the Secretary and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to assist in the prevention of and response to discrimination and violence against those who identify as LGBTQ.

Argument in favor

The U.S. has voiced a commitment to protect the LGBTQ community's human rights; there needs to be a comprehensive strategy for addressing the discrimination they face overseas.

Argument opposed

LGBTQ rights are a controversial topic domestically — can the U.S. really expect foreign governments come to an agreement on the LGBTQ issues?

Impact

The LGBT community in the U.S. and abroad.

Cost of S. 302

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

Of Note:

Homosexuality is punishable by death in Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Mauritania, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and United Arab Emirates. In the past two years, Russia passed a law banning “gay propaganda,” India has reinstated the criminalization of homosexuality, Nigeria and Gambia have passed laws that make homosexuality a crime punishable with life imprisonment.

In President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union (SOTU) address, he affirmed a U.S. commitment to protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) Press Release

Advocate

Human Rights First (In Support)

Human Rights Campaign (In Support)

USAID (Context)