New York: Jessica Stern will soon become the State Department’s special diplomatic envoy to the State Department. LGBTQ RITES sees a mix of promising news and worrying developments almost everywhere, both at home and abroad.
In the United States, Stern’s praise for president Joe BidenThe move by an advocate of LGBTQ rights is offset by his dismay at other developments. These include continued violence against transgender women of color and a wave of legislation in Republican-ruled states seeking to limit sports participation and medical options for trans youth.
“I don’t think there is one country or region that is all good or all bad,” she told The. told The Associated Press on Friday. “When you look around the world, you see progress and danger together.”
Stern, whose new position was announced by Biden last week, has served as executive director of New York-based Outright Action International since 2012, which works globally to prevent abuse of LGBTQ people and strengthen their civil rights. works on. She hopes to start a State Department job in September.
From her vantage point in Outright, she’s been monitoring far-right threats to LGBTQ people: recent mass arrests in African countries like Ghana and Uganda, three murders within a week in Guatemala, and legislation in Hungary called It has been attacked by many European leaders and human rights activists as defaming LGBTQ people.
Stern is also concerned that LGBTQ people in Myanmar are suffering disproportionately amid the military’s violent repression of protesters and opposition groups.
With regard to the United States, she said, LGBTQ developments this year have reflected deep contradictions.
She commended Biden for advancing transgender rights, including the Trump administration’s lifting of a ban that barred trans people from joining the military. And he welcomed the unprecedented appointments of LGBTQ people to important administrative positions – including Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, as Secretary of Transportation, and Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender, as Assistant Secretary of Health.
“At the same time, the work in America for the safety and security of transgender Americans is not done,” Stern said. he urged Congress To pass the Equality Act, a bill that would expand federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ people. stuck in bill managing committee Because of the lack of Republican support.
“There is no country that has got this right,” she said. “We all have to work to make sure we are free from discrimination and violence. … We are all in this together.”
She also sees reasons for optimism in Africa, where South Africa is one of 54 countries that have legalized same-sex marriage.
For example, in Nigeria, she said a recent survey showed that 25% of the population opposes discrimination against LGBTQ people – a considerable increase from a few years ago,
“There is no doubt that this is a slow journey for LGBTQI rights anywhere where conservative religions play a major role, but progress is being made,” she said.
“Every day I get an email from a new organization — maybe starting a film festival or an arts festival,” she said. “As long as LGBTQI civil society remains strong, it is only a matter of time before we see a change in attitudes and even legislation and policy.”
In the United States, Stern’s praise for president Joe BidenThe move by an advocate of LGBTQ rights is offset by his dismay at other developments. These include continued violence against transgender women of color and a wave of legislation in Republican-ruled states seeking to limit sports participation and medical options for trans youth.
“I don’t think there is one country or region that is all good or all bad,” she told The. told The Associated Press on Friday. “When you look around the world, you see progress and danger together.”
Stern, whose new position was announced by Biden last week, has served as executive director of New York-based Outright Action International since 2012, which works globally to prevent abuse of LGBTQ people and strengthen their civil rights. works on. She hopes to start a State Department job in September.
From her vantage point in Outright, she’s been monitoring far-right threats to LGBTQ people: recent mass arrests in African countries like Ghana and Uganda, three murders within a week in Guatemala, and legislation in Hungary called It has been attacked by many European leaders and human rights activists as defaming LGBTQ people.
Stern is also concerned that LGBTQ people in Myanmar are suffering disproportionately amid the military’s violent repression of protesters and opposition groups.
With regard to the United States, she said, LGBTQ developments this year have reflected deep contradictions.
She commended Biden for advancing transgender rights, including the Trump administration’s lifting of a ban that barred trans people from joining the military. And he welcomed the unprecedented appointments of LGBTQ people to important administrative positions – including Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, as Secretary of Transportation, and Dr. Rachel Levine, who is transgender, as Assistant Secretary of Health.
“At the same time, the work in America for the safety and security of transgender Americans is not done,” Stern said. he urged Congress To pass the Equality Act, a bill that would expand federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ people. stuck in bill managing committee Because of the lack of Republican support.
“There is no country that has got this right,” she said. “We all have to work to make sure we are free from discrimination and violence. … We are all in this together.”
She also sees reasons for optimism in Africa, where South Africa is one of 54 countries that have legalized same-sex marriage.
For example, in Nigeria, she said a recent survey showed that 25% of the population opposes discrimination against LGBTQ people – a considerable increase from a few years ago,
“There is no doubt that this is a slow journey for LGBTQI rights anywhere where conservative religions play a major role, but progress is being made,” she said.
“Every day I get an email from a new organization — maybe starting a film festival or an arts festival,” she said. “As long as LGBTQI civil society remains strong, it is only a matter of time before we see a change in attitudes and even legislation and policy.”
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