Equality Illinois Applauds Creation of
State Department LGBT Rights Diplomat
CHICAGO (February 5, 2015) – Equality Illinois applauds Secretary of State John Kerry and the U.S. State Department for the decision to appoint a special U.S. envoy whose focus will be advocating for LGBT rights overseas.
“When we met with State Department officials in Washington last year, Equality Illinois pressed the diplomats to find ways to voice U.S. disapproval of the oftentimes violent repression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in too many nations,” said Bernard Cherkasov CEO of Equality Illinois.
“While there is greater understanding, growing acceptance and stronger recognition of rights for LGBT Americans, the same sadly cannot be said for some corners of the world,” Cherkasov said. “A special envoy dedicated to protecting LGBT people wherever they are is in the best American tradition of making human rights part of the international dialog. We are pleased that Secretary Kerry and the Obama Administration are taking this step without action by Congress. Still, we would like to see Congress eventually act to create this position by law so it becomes a permanent part of America’s diplomacy.”