U.S. Department of State.

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Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World  / 2021 

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum directing all U.S. government departments and agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons around the world.

The struggle to end violence, discrimination, criminalization, and stigma against LGBTQI+ persons is a global challenge that remains central to our commitment to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all individuals.  In the Biden-Harris administration, the United States will lead by the power of our example and pursue a policy to end violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.  Today’s action by President Biden demonstrates the U.S. government’s firm commitment to advance this goal.

Pursuant to President Biden’s memorandum, the Department of State in coordination with relevant federal agencies will use a broad range of diplomatic and programmatic tools and resources to protect vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers; combat criminalization of individuals on the basis of LGBTQI+ status or conduct; ensure that our diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons and advance nondiscrimination; and allow swift U.S. responses to human rights violations and abuses of LGBTQI+ persons.

Working with Congress, the State Department is taking the necessary steps to provide $10 million in Fiscal Year 2021 funds for the Global Equality Fund (GEF). The GEF provides emergency assistance to human rights defenders and human rights programming support to grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations to catalyze positive change and draws its strength from the support and partnership of an international coalition of like-minded governments, businesses, and foundations.

Under President Biden’s leadership, the United States will work with like-minded governments and strengthen civil society advocacy to fully support and advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.  Our international partners can be assured that advancing human rights for all individuals, with no exception or caveat, is a U.S. foreign policy priority.

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 Dominican Republic Independence Day 02/27/2021 08:53 AM EST  Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State  On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I send congratulations to the people of the Dominican Republic as you celebrate the 177th anniversary of your independence on February 27, 2021.  The United States and the Dominican Republic are bound together by extraordinary cultural and economic ties that contribute to the strength of both our countries.  We will continue to build upon our long-standing relationship, sharing a deep commitment to democratic governance, transparency, and sustainable economic growth.  We continue to stand together amid the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, with our contributions and technical assistance emblematic of our partnership.  The United States looks forward to our continued collaboration in these and other endeavors.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken Introductory Remarks for President Biden 02/04/2021 03:58 PM EST  Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State  Washington, D.C.  Ben Franklin Room  SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon. Today I get to say something that brings me tremendous happiness: President Biden, Vice President Harris, welcome to the State Department.  For more than two decades, I’ve had the privilege of watching President Biden at work. I’ve seen his commitment to the American people, his expertise in foreign policy, his steadfast belief in diplomacy, and his rock-solid support for our diplomats and development experts. I’ve seen him on the Hill, in the Oval Office, in distant world capitals from Baghdad to Bagram, Paris to Pretoria, and visiting our troops, visiting our diplomats, visiting all the men and women representing this country.  And I can say without fear of contradiction that in the history of the presidency, no one has brought as much foreign policy experience to the job as Joe Biden. Wherever he goes, he’s been a champion for American leadership and a defender of American values. And in Kamala Harris he has a Vice President, we have a Vice President, with a long track record of standing up for the security of the American people and an abiding commitment to using diplomacy to advance our interests and defend our values around the world.  At this moment of unprecedented global challenge, it’s more important than ever that the United States show up and lead, because the world simply doesn’t organize itself to solve big problems, and the well-being of the American people hangs in the balance. We need diplomacy to get the pandemic under control worldwide, to save American lives and livelihoods. We need diplomacy to address the climate crisis, to protect communities across our country. We need diplomacy to check the rise of authoritarianism, to prevent the spread of dangerous weapons, to shore up democracy, to defend human rights – all of which makes the world more stable and free, and all of which protects the security and prosperity of the American people.

Honoring Boris Nemtsov on the Sixth Anniversary of his Murder 02/27/2021 08:10 AM EST  Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State  We honor the memory of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was shot and killed within sight of the Kremlin’s walls six years ago.  As a public servant, Nemtsov dedicated his life to building a free and democratic Russia.  As we remember Nemtsov, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms.  We remain deeply troubled by the Russian government’s growing intolerance of all forms of independent expression.  Those who would speak out in defense of their freedoms and democracy in Russia continue to be targeted for attack and assassination.  The Russian people deserve better.

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The United States and the United Kingdom are Working Together in the Fight Against Climate Change 03/08/2021 04:12 PM EST  Office of the Spokesperson  Today in London, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry joined meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, and President-Designate of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Alok Sharma.  Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma released the following statement following their meeting.  Begin text:  We resolved today to work closely together to reduce our own emissions and to rally all countries, and most especially the world’s major economies, to strengthen climate ambition. President Biden’s upcoming Leaders Summit on Climate and the G7 leaders meeting to be hosted by the UK