From Cicilline Post: Cicilline Introduces Bill to Protect Basic Human Rights of
International LGBT Community
Jun 19, 2014 Issues: LGBT Issues
WASHINGTON, DC – As the nation celebrates Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline
(D-RI), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, co-chair of
the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and one of eight openly LGBT
members of Congress, today introduced legislation to protect the basic
human rights of the international LGBT community.
Specifically, the Global Respect Act would require the State
Department to ban foreigners who have committed or incited gross
violations of basic human rights against LGBT individuals from
entering the United States. It also directs the State Department to
report on these violations and related issues in its annual Human
Rights Report.
“The United States and the international community have a
responsibility to condemn horrific acts of discrimination and targeted
violence against all individuals, including egregious offenses based
on sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Cicilline. “The
Global Respect Act will protect the rights of the LGBT community
across the globe and uphold America’s commitment to defending basic
human rights in all corners of the world.”
"Hate is not an American value, and those who are involved in passing
vicious anti-LGBT laws or inflicting harm on LGBT people should not be
welcome in our country," said David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign’s
Government Affairs Director. "This bill sends a clear message to
those who have championed these serious human rights violations that
the United States government and the American people fundamentally
reject them."
“It’s important to codify our government’s commitment to human rights
for LGBT individuals globally, as both a reflection of our commitment
to the rights of targeted minority communities everywhere, and as a
pragmatic realization that foreign governments that respect the rights
of LGBT citizens make better diplomatic, economic and security
partners for the United States. By applying targeted visa sanctions
to those who choose to persecute LGBT citizens, and silence the human
rights organizations that would defend their rights, the bill sends a
strong message to the world, particularly during Pride month. It also
makes clear that those who seek to advance their political careers, or
enrich their pockets, with anti-LGBT hate speech are not welcome on
our shores to benefit from the riches of our country and our economy,”
said Mark Bromley, Chair of the Council for Global Equality.
“Our nation has a proud history of protecting the rights and freedoms
of the oppressed. In a time when many nations around the world are
committing egregious human rights violations against LGBT people, we
welcome Representative Cicilline’s leadership to ensure that the
United States continues to promote safety, freedom, and equality of
all people,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Elisa
Massimino.
More than 80 countries have laws that explicitly outlaw same-sex
relations with penalties threatening imprisonment, fines, or, in
several instances, even death. Recently, disturbing efforts to target
LGBT individuals and their families have passed and been signed into
law – most notably in Uganda and Nigeria. In Russia, President
Vladimir Putin’s supporters are considering legislation which would
forcibly remove children from their families if their parents are
suspected of being lesbian or gay. And, in Iran and elsewhere in the
Middle East, LGBT people can even be put to death.
Original cosponsors of Cicilline’s legislation include Representatives
Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Barbara
Lee (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Sean Patrick
Maloney (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Patrick
Murphy (D-FL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jared Polis (D-CO), Lucille
Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), and
Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
The bill is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the Council for
Global Equality, Human Rights First, PFLAG National, American Jewish
World Service, and Global Rights.