President Biden is advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world
In line with American moral and ethical principles, President Joe Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum to “promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons around the world.”
The initiative of President Biden is indirectly, yet in a rather clear manner, suggesting that from now on the destination to LGBTQI+ demonstrations and gay parades worldwide should be towards American embassies and consulates in various countries. This indirect suggestion will be particularly useful for countries which do not share the views of the US administration on the subject.
Furthermore, the official American support of the LGBTQI+ community will, in the long term, contribute in a pleasant and not forceful way to the reduction of the population of the planet which, together with climate change, is one of the two global existential problems that humanity is facing.
To this effect, Antony Blinken, the new US Secretary of State, issued the following statement.
“Today, President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum directing all U.S. government departments and agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons around the world.
The struggle to end violence, discrimination, criminalization, and stigma against LGBTQI+ persons is a global challenge that remains central to our commitment to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all individuals. In the Biden-Harris administration, the United States will lead by the power of our example and pursue a policy to end violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.
Today’s action by President Biden demonstrates that the U.S. government’s firm commitment to advance this goal.
Pursuant to President Biden’s memorandum, the Department of State in coordination with relevant federal agencies will use a broad range of diplomatic and programmatic tools and resources to protect vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers; combat criminalization of individuals on the basis of LGBTQI+ status or conduct; ensure that our diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons and advance nondiscrimination; and allow swift U.S. responses to human rights violations and abuses of LGBTQI+ persons.
Working with Congress, the State Department is taking the necessary steps to provide $10 million in Fiscal Year 2021 funds for the Global Equality Fund (GEF). The GEF provides emergency assistance to human rights defenders and human rights programming support to grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations to catalyze positive change and draws its strength from the support and partnership of an international coalition of like-minded governments, businesses, and foundations.
Under President Biden’s leadership, the United States will work with like-minded governments and strengthen civil society advocacy to fully support and advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. Our international partners can be assured that advancing human rights for all individuals, with no exception or caveat, is a U.S. foreign policy priority.”
