Council for Global Equality Applauds Mark Dann for Winning NILE Top Lobbyist Award

Council for Global Equality Applauds Mark Dann for Winning NILE Top Lobbyist Award

The Council for Global Equality is proud to announce that Mark Dann has been recognized as one of the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) Top Lobbyists for 2024. This prestigious award honors Mark’s exceptional dedication to advancing global LGBTQI+ equality and human rights advocacy.

Mark’s recent work for the Council for Global Equality stands out for its impact in countering the oppressive actions of Uzbekistan’s authoritarian regime, which has an extensive history of human rights violations, particularly against its LGBTQI+ citizens. Despite Tashkent spending an estimated $145,000 a month on lobbying efforts, Mark was able to halt a trade deal that would have further enriched the regime’s elite without incentivizing any improvements to its treatment of marginalized groups. What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that Mark did it with a very limited lobbying budget.

Mark’s success in blocking the regime’s efforts stemmed from his ability to build a coalition of LGBTQI+ survivors — many of whom were new to advocacy — alongside representatives from human rights organizations. Leveraging his advanced Russian language skills and experience in the former Soviet Union, Mark guided survivors through the process of preparing their stories for Congressional audiences. He executed a targeted advocacy strategy, focusing on key members of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees and LGBTQI+ members of Congress, ensuring these powerful voices reached the right decision-makers.

“Mark’s leadership demonstrated his incredible ability to amplify LGBTQI+ voices,” said Mark Bromley, Co-Chair of the Council for Global Equality. “Mark provided survivors with a safe platform to share their experiences, and Mark played a pivotal role in stopping the ambitions of an oppressive regime. He embodies the principles of skillful and ethical advocacy.”

“Mark’s strategic leadership, compassion, and ability to unite diverse groups are the hallmarks of his success,” said Julie Dorf, Co-Chair of the Council for Global Equality. “By ensuring that these powerful stories reached the right decision-makers, Mark significantly contributed to advancing human rights and holding the regime accountable. His recognition as a Top Lobbyist is well-earned.”

The Council for Global Equality congratulates Mark Dann on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to continuing our shared mission of advancing global equality.