Hold U.S. Government Accountable

The Council has leveraged its well-organized Washington coalition in support of a U.S. foreign policy that protects the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons over the course of four presidential administrations. As we now navigate a more hostile U.S. political landscape, the Council’s assets are dedicated to mitigating attacks on the global LGBTQI+ community and translating U.S. foreign policy updates to like-minded governments and other stakeholders, while simultaneously rebuilding public support for human rights policies and institutions. 

The Council has launched a consultation with key stakeholders to envision an inclusive new U.S. foreign policy that centers human rights and democracy. We argue for a humbled, appropriately self-aware, and consciously self-restrained U.S. foreign policy that leans into a multipolar world to revitalize international human rights norms and institutions on the global stage. To do so, we consistently highlight U.S. national security interests by reaffirming the long-term value of an inclusive democracy and human rights agenda that champions multilateralism and meaningful LGBTQI+ and other minority inclusion.  

The Council regularly advocates for the robust use of diplomatic tools and funding opportunities to promote LGBTQI+ foreign policy goals. In multilateral fora, we support human rights leadership and equality goals at the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS),  and in other leading multilateral institutions, such as the G7, World Bank, and Equal Rights Coalition.

The Council equally supports Congressional efforts to respond to human rights abuses targeting LGBTQI+ individuals abroad. We work with Congressional offices to raise LGBTQI+-focused human rights questions during Congressional committee hearings, including Senate confirmation hearings. We support Congressional letters, resolutions, and legislation responding to LGBTQI+-specific human rights concerns. We also work with the Congressional Equality Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, and with the membership of other select Congressional caucuses, to hold educational briefings related to international LGBTQI+ funding and policy concerns.