ABOVE: The Progress Pride flag. Watermark file photo.
The U.S. House approved legislation Feb. 8 on a bipartisan basis that seeks to strengthen the commitment by the United States to the LGBTQ human rights overseas, such as by denying visas to individuals who commit human rights abuses against LGBTQ people abroad.
The Global Respect Act, which was introduced by Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who’s gay and co-chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, was approved in the House by a vote 227-206.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement after the vote the House “took a bold step forward in protecting the fundamental rights and dignities of the global LGBTQ community.”
“Tragically, thousands of LGBTQ individuals are subjected to attack, harassment, arrest and murder every year, suffering under state-sanctioned discrimination and an alarming surge of violence,” Pelosi said. “Yet, those responsible all too often act with impunity, never facing consequences for their crimes. The Global Respect Act will help counter that injustice, barring offenders from entering the United States, gathering new data on anti-LGBTQ human rights violations and holding perpetrators accountable, including through additional sanctions.”
The Global Respect Act would codify existing policies at the State Department in its role advocating for the human rights of LGBTQ people. The legislation would deny visas to those who commit human rights abuses against LGBTQ people abroad; codify reporting requirements on these issues in the State Department’s annual Human Rights Report; and apply to state and individual actors, per a statement from Cicilline’s office.
Cicilline said in a statement the legislation would build on existing human rights related sanctions authorities, such as authority the Global Magnitsky Act to penalize human rights abusers overseas.
“In the past few years, we have seen a dangerous trend of increasing violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and their families. In too many places, violence against LGBTQI+ communities is pervasive, and even sanctioned or directed by government officials,” Cicilline said. “With today’s vote, the House sent a strong message around the world that every member of the LGBTQI+ community deserves to live with dignity and free from violence, unlawful detention, torture, and other forms of brutality.”
Cicilline introduced the legislation on a bipartisan with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) as an original co-sponsor. Companion legislation in the Senate has been introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio).
The legislation now heads to the Senate. The Washington Blade has placed a request in with the office of Cicilline seeking comment on whether the House has indication the Senate would act on the bill.
