House Approves Act Seeking to Protect Global LGBTQ Rights

In a move designed to enhance the United States’ commitment to protecting LGBTQ right around the world, the U.S. House of Representatives last week approved the Global Respect Act in a bipartisan vote last week.

The legislation was introduced by out gay Representative David Cicilline, co-chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and would prohibit those who have committed LGBTQ human rights abuses abroad from obtaining a visa to enter the U.S. It applies to both state and individual actors and would preserve policies already in place in the State Department, regarding reporting LGBTQ human rights abuses, into law. The vote passed 227-206

David Stacy, government affairs director for the Human Rights Campaign, speaks out about the legislation:

“By passing this legislation that would restrict people who engage in these terrible abuses from entering the U.S., we can send a message that our country stands with the LGBTQ+ people of every nation and won’t stop fighting for their freedom and equal rights.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi celebrated the legislation’s passing, saying that the House took a “bold step forward” to protect the fundamental rights and dignities of LGBTQ people around the world, adding that so many perpetrators of anti-LGBTQ abuse don’t face consequences.

“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,” Pelosi says.

Cicilline, who introduced the bill alongside Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, issued his own statement, acknowledging the dangerous trend surrounding violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people and their families. He says, “in too many places, violence against LGBTQI+ communities is pervasive, and even sanctioned or directed by government officials.”

Cicilline adds that the vote in the House sent a strong message globally, that “every member of the LGBTQI+ community deserves to live with dignity and free from violence, unlawful detention, torture, and other forms of brutality.”