H.R. 4050; S. 1924

The Problem

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people around the world continue to face discrimination, violence, and bigotry. Sixty-eight countries criminalize same-sex sexual relations. That means that more than one-third of United Nations Member States criminalize consenting, adult, same-sex sexual relations. In up to twelve countries, same-sex sexual relations may be punishable by death, and so-called anti-LGBTQ+ “propaganda” laws inhibit LGBTQ+ advocacy in at least three countries.

Reports from various governments, international bodies, watchdogs, and advocacy organizations have documented hostility toward LGBTQ+ citizens in every region of the world. These violations include murder, rape, torture, death threats, extortion, imprisonment, and loss of employment and access to health care, as well as restrictions on freedoms of assembly, press, and speech.

What is the GLOBE Act?

The GLOBE Act would build a framework into U.S. diplomacy to protect LGBTQ+ human rights worldwide. The bill would make preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community a foreign policy priority and permanently create a Special Envoy within the State Department to advise the Secretary of State on LGBTQ+ human rights issues. In addition to the permanent Special Envoy at the State Department, the GLOBE Act would establish an interagency group within the U.S. government tasked with responding to attacks on LGBTQ+ outside the United States, ensuring that the United States acts as a leader in defending LGBTQ+ equality worldwide.

Additionally, the GLOBE Act would authorize sanctions against individuals who commit anti-LGBTQ+ human rights violations abroad and require that the U.S. State Department report on anti-LGBTQ+ in its annual Human Rights Report. The GLOBE Act would ensure accountability for anti-LGBTQ+ human rights abusers and send a strong message to the LGBTQ+ community within the United States.

Beyond the borders of the United States, the GLOBE Act would codify a non-discrimination policy in all U.S. foreign assistance programs to ensure that U.S. funded programs are fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, preventing U.S. funded discrimination abroad, and helps improve the effectiveness of the PEPFAR program, which combats HIV/AIDS abroad.

The GLOBE Act would also permanently establish LGBTQ+ identities as a “social group” for the purposes of claiming asylum in the United States, allowing individuals fleeing anti-LGBTQ+ persecution to seek refuge in the United States. It would also prohibit the government from detaining LGBTQ+ people seeking safety in the United States, unless they pose a safety threat.

Current Status of the Bill

The GLOBE Act was reintroduced in the 118th Congress on June 5, 2023, in the Senate by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and on June 6, 2023 in the House of Representatives by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV).

For more information, please contact legislation@hrc.org. Read about other Federal Legislation pertinent to the LGBTQ+ community here.

Last Updated: April 7, 2024

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