,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bdgb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ab1 #bjad ,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,schumer1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,ms4 ,cantwell1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,leahy1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,ms4 ,mikulski1 ,mr4 ,franken1 and ,mrs4 ,shaheen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish in the ,bureau of ,democracy1 ,human ,rights1 and ,labor of the ,department of ,state a ,special ,envoy for the ,human ,rights of ,,lgbt ,peoples4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,international ,human ,rights ,defense ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,gender identity ,the term gender identity means the gender-related identity1 appearance1 or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual1 with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth4 7#c7 ,,lgbt ,the term ,,lgbt means lesbian1 gay1 bisexual1 or transgender4 7#d7 ,sexual orientation ,the term sexual orientation means homosexuality1 heterosexuality1 or bisexuality4 #c4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,eighty-two countries prohibit the public support of the ,,lgbt community1 promote homophobia across society1 or criminalize homosexuality4 ,that is equal to more than #dj percent of ,united ,nations ,member ,states4 7#b7 ,in seven countries1 homosexuality is a crime that is punishable by death4 7#c7 ,around the world1 ,,lgbt people face discrimination1 hatred1 violence1 and bigotry4 7#d7 ,violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity are documented in the ,department of ,state's annual ,human ,rights ,report to ,congress4 ,the #bjac report continues to show a clear pattern of increased human rights violations in every region of the world based on sexual orientation and gender identity4 ,these violations include murder1 rape1 torture1 death threats1 extortion1 imprisonment1 as well as loss of employment1 housing1 access to health care1 and other forms of societal stigma and discrimination4 ,the report further documents growing ,,lgbt-specific restrictions on basic freedoms of assembly1 press1 and speech in every region of the world4 7#e7 ,in ,jamaica and other countries1 discrimination against ,,lgbt people1 including corrective rape of lesbian women1 occurs all too frequently and with relative impunity4 7#f7 ,in #bjac1 the ,government of the ,russian ,federation and others in the region passed laws banning ,homosexual ,propaganda1 which effectively makes it a crime to publically support ,,lgbt equality4 7#g7 ,in ,february #bjad1 the ,government of ,uganda adopted a law that makes aggravated homosexuality a crime punishable with life imprisonment and endangers any individual arbitrarily found to support ,,lgbt people4 ,concurrently1 the ,government of ,uganda also passed laws severely limiting the basic freedoms of speech and assembly for ,,lgbt citizens4 7#h7 ,in ,december #bjac1 the ,government of ,nigeria adopted a law further criminalizing homosexuality4 ,the law also criminalizes supporting ,,lgbt people in any way1 endangering the neighbors1 friends1 doctors1 and landlords of ,,lgbt people4 7#i7 ,the anti-homosexuality laws in ,nigeria and ,uganda potentially endanger all ,,lgbt individuals in those countries4 ,in addition1 international ,,hiv workers could be at risk since the study and treatment of at-risk populations may constitute support for ,,lgbt people4 7#aj7 ,on ,december #f1 #bjaa1 ,president ,barack ,obama released the ,presidential ,memorandum--,international ,initiatives to ,advance the ,human ,rights of ,lesbian1 ,gay1 ,bisexual1 and ,transgender ,persons4 ,the memorandum directed all ,federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that ,united ,states diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of ,,lgbt persons4 7#aa7 ,secretary of ,state ,john ,kerry has announced that the ,united ,states ,government will review ,united ,states diplomatic relationships with ,nigeria and ,uganda in light of passage of their recent anti-,,lgbt laws4 ,on ,march #bc1 #bjad1 the ,department of ,state announced that the ,united ,states ,government would cut #f1djj1jjj in funding for the ,interreligious ,council of ,uganda because of its support for the ,anti-,homosexuality ,act1 halt a survey designed to minimize the spread of ,,hiv_/,,aids because of potential harm to respondents1 impose short-term travel bans on ,ugandan military officials1 and halt some joint military exercises with the military of ,uganda4 7#ab7 ,in ,december #bjac1 the ,supreme ,court of ,india reversed a lower court ruling and reinstated the criminalization of homosexuality in the second most populous nation on ,earth4 ,in ,april #bjad1 ,india's ,supreme ,court recognized transgender people as a third gender1 improving the legal rights of transgender people in that country4 ,given these two court decisions1 the degree of human rights protections for ,,lgbt persons in ,india is uncertain4 7#ac7 ,removing institutionalized discrimination and targeted persecution against ,,lgbt people around the world is a critical step in the promotion of human rights and global health internationally4 7#ad7 ,according to the ,trans ,murder ,monitoring ,project1 which monitors homicides of transgender individuals1 #bch transgender persons were killed between ,november #bjab and ,november #bjac worldwide4 7#ae7 ,according to the ,international ,guidelines on ,,hiv_/,,aids and ,human ,rights1 as published by the ,united ,nations ,high ,commissioner for ,human ,rights1 countries should review and reform criminal laws and correctional systems to ensure that they are consistent with international human rights obligations and are not misused in the context of ,,hiv or targeted against vulnerable groups4 #d4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 to take effective action to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against all people on any basis internationally1 including sexual orientation and gender identity1 and that human rights policy include attention to hate crimes and other discrimination against ,,lgbt people2 7#b7 to systematically integrate and coordinate efforts to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally into ,united ,states foreign policy2 7#c7 to support and build local capacity in countries around the world1 including of governments at all levels and nongovernmental organizations1 to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7#d7 to consult1 cooperate1 coordinate1 and collaborate with a wide variety of nongovernmental partners with demonstrated experience in preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally1 including faith-based organizations and ,,lgbt-led organizations2 7#e7 to employ a multisectoral approach to preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally1 including activities in the economic1 education1 health1 nutrition1 legal1 and judicial sectors2 7#f7 to work at all levels1 from the individual to the family1 community1 local1 national1 and international levels1 to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7#g7 to enhance training by ,united ,states personnel of professional foreign military and police forces and judicial officials to include appropriate and thorough ,,lgbt-specific instruction on preventing and responding to discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity2 7#h7 to engage non-,,lgbt people as allies and partners1 as an essential element of making sustained reductions in discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people2 7#i7 to require that all ,federal contractors and grant recipients in the ,united ,states ,government's international programs establish appropriate policies and take effective measures to ensure the protection and safety of their staff and workplace1 including from discrimination and violence directed against ,,lgbt people and those who provide services to them2 7#aj7 to exert sustained international leadership to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt persons1 including in bilateral and multilateral fora2 7#aa7 to fully implement and expand upon the policies outlined in the ,presidential ,memorandum--,international ,initiatives to ,advance the ,human ,rights of ,lesbian1 ,gay1 ,bisexual1 and ,transgender ,persons2 7#ab7 to ensure that international efforts to combat ,,hiv_/,,aids take all appropriate measures to support at-risk communities1 including ,,lgbt persons1 and to create enabling legal environments for these communities2 7#ac7 to work with governments and nongovernmental partners around the world to develop and implement regional strategies to decriminalize homosexuality and to counteract the prohibition of public support of the ,,lgbt community2 and 7#ad7 to ensure that those who have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of being ,,lgbt or supporting ,,lgbt rights have the opportunity to seek protection in the ,united ,states4 #e4 ,special ,envoy for the human rights of ,,lgbt people 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,state shall establish in the ,bureau of ,democracy1 ,human ,rights1 and ,labor 7,,drl7 of the ,department of ,state a ,special ,envoy for the ,human ,rights of ,,lgbt ,peoples 7in this section referred to as the ,special ,envoy71 who shall be appointed by the ,president4 ,the ,special ,envoy shall report directly to the ,assistant ,secretary for ,,drl4 7b7 ,purpose ,in addition to the duties described in subsection 7c7 and those duties determined by the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,special ,envoy shall direct efforts of the ,united ,states ,government as directed by the ,secretary regarding human rights abuses against the ,,lgbt community internationally and the advancement of human rights for ,,lgbt people in ,united ,states foreign policy1 and shall represent the ,united ,states internationally in bilateral and multilateral engagement on these matters4 7c7 ,duties 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,special ,envoy-- 7,a7 shall direct activities1 policies1 programs1 and funding relating to the human rights of ,,lgbt people and the advancement of ,,lgbt equality initiatives internationally1 for all bureaus and offices of the ,department of ,state and shall lead the coordination of relevant international programs for all other ,federal agencies2 7,b7 shall represent the ,united ,states in diplomatic matters relevant to the human rights of ,,lgbt people1 including discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7,c7 shall direct1 as appropriate1 ,united ,states ,government resources to respond to needs for protection1 integration1 resettlement1 and empowerment of ,,lgbt people in ,united ,states ,government policies and international programs1 including to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7,d7 shall design1 support1 and implement activities regarding support1 education1 resettlement1 and empowerment of ,,lgbt people internationally1 including for the prevention and response to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7,e7 shall lead interagency coordination between the foreign policy priorities related to the human rights of ,,lgbt people and the development assistance priorities of the ,,lgbt ,coordinator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development2 7,f7 shall conduct regular consultation with civil society organizations working to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally2 7,g7 shall ensure that programs1 projects1 and activities designed to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people are subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation1 and that there is a uniform set of indicators and standards for such monitoring and evaluation that is used across international programs in ,federal agencies2 7,h7 shall serve as the principal advisor to the ,secretary of ,state regarding human rights for ,,lgbt people internationally2 and 7,i7 is authorized to represent the ,united ,states in diplomatic and multilateral situations on matters relevant to the human rights of ,,lgbt people1 including discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally4 7#b7 ,data repository ,the ,bureau of ,democracy1 ,human ,rights1 and ,labor shall-- 7,a7 be the central repository of data on all ,united ,states programs1 projects1 and activities that relate to prevention and response to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people2 and 7,b7 produce-- 7i7 a full accounting of ,united ,states ,government spending on such programs1 projects1 and activities2 and 7ii7 evaluations of the effectiveness of implemented programs4 #f4 ,briefings and assessments ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,special ,envoy shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the status of the human rights of ,,lgbt people internationally1 as well as the status of programs and response strategies to address ,,lgbt discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally1 and shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of human and financial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties of this ,act4 #g4 ,united ,states policy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people globally 7a7 ,global strategy requirement ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter for five years1 the ,special ,envoy shall develop or update a ,united ,states global strategy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people globally4 ,the strategy shall be transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and1 if practicable1 made available to the public4 7b7 ,initial strategy ,for the purposes of this section1 the ,presidential ,memorandum--,international ,initiatives to ,advance the ,human ,rights of ,lesbian1 ,gay1 ,bisexual1 and ,transgender ,persons1 issued ,december #f1 #bjaa1 shall be deemed to fulfill the initial requirement of subsection 7a74 7c7 ,reporting ,in accordance with paragraph 7#ac7 of section #aaf7;d7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baean7d771 as added by section #i7;b71 the ,annual ,report on ,human ,rights ,practices shall include detailed descriptions of nations that have adopted laws or constitutions that discriminate against ,,lgbt people4 7d7 ,collaboration and coordination ,in developing the strategy under subsection 7a71 the ,special ,envoy shall consult with-- 7#a7 the heads of relevant ,federal agencies2 and 7#b7 representatives of civil society1 multilateral1 and private sector organizations with demonstrated experience in addressing discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people or promoting equal rights for ,,lgbt people internationally4 #h4 ,implementation of the ,united ,states strategy to prevent and respond to ,,lgbt discrimination and violence against the ,,lgbt community globally ,the ,secretary of ,state and the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development are authorized to provide assistance to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally1 including the following activities3 7#a7 ,development and implementation of programs1 such as the ,global ,equality ,fund1 that respond to human rights abuses and economic exclusion of ,,lgbt people in the workplace and in public4 7#b7 ,development and enforcement of civil and criminal legal and judicial sanctions1 protection1 training1 and capacity4 7#c7 ,enhancement of the health sector capacity to detect1 prevent1 and respond to violence against the ,,lgbt community and to combat ,,hiv_/,,aids in the ,,lgbt community internationally1 in close coordination with the ,office of the ,global ,,aids ,coordinator4 7#d7 ,development of a leadership program for international ,,lgbt activists that will foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across the world4 #i4 ,monitoring the ,united ,states strategy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against the ,,lgbt community globally 7a7 ,in general ,in each strategy submitted under section #g7;a71 the ,special ,envoy shall include an analysis of best practices for preventing and addressing discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally1 which shall include-- 7#a7 a description of successful efforts by foreign governments1 multilateral institutions1 nongovernmental organizations1 educational organizations1 and faith-based organizations in preventing and responding to discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people2 7#b7 recommendations related to best practices1 effective strategies1 and improvements to enhance the impact of prevention and response efforts2 and 7#c7 the impact of activities funded by the strategy in preventing and reducing discrimination and violence against ,,lgbt people internationally4 7b7 ,information required ,to be included in human rights practices report ,section #aaf7;d7 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baean7d77 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#aa77;,c71 by striking 2 and and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#ab77;,c77ii71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#ac7 wherever applicable1 the nature and extent of discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity4 4