The Council for Global Equality

We’re thrilled to announce our newest partner in the fight for global LGBTQI+ human rights: SAGE. Now let’s get to work!

SAGE, the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older people, is proud to announce its membership into the The Council for Global Equality (CGE). The Council for Global Equality is a coalition of prominent U.S.-based human rights and LGBTIQ+ advocacy organizations that together encourage a clear U.S. voice for the human rights of LGBTIQ+ communities around the world.

SAGE, being the first CGE member organization focused on LGBTIQ+ aging, aims to make an impact by elevating the issues LGBTIQ+ elders face globally: https://www.sageusa.org/news-posts/sage-joins-the-council-for-global-equality/

With the confirmation of the eminently qualified ChantaleWong as US Director of the Asian Development Bank, the US has its first out le***an & first out LGBTQ person of color in an Ambassador-ranked position. Finally!

Chantale Wong Becomes America’s First Le***an Ambassador Amb. Chantale Wong February 8, 2022 – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Chantale Wong as U.S. Executive Director to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the rank of ambassador. With a vot…

With the Summit for Democracy just days away, we've joined forces with F&M Global Barometers to launch the LGBTQI Report Cards. In them, we score the 110 nations participating in the Summit to provide a concise measurement of the attainment of core human rights protections for LGBTQI individuals - a novel tool to support accountability in the advancement of global LGBTQI rights.

LGBTQI Report Cards Summit for Democracy LGBTQI Report Cards Inclusive democracies value the democratic, economic, and social contributions of all citizens.

Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone: the US has officially joined a small handful of countries issuing passports with an “x” gender marker! Read our post for more on the fight to make this historic moment possible:

Celebrating the Release of First Non-Binary U.S. Passport October 27, 2021 – The Council for Global Equality today celebrates the State Department’s announcement that it has issued the very first U.S. passport with a non-binary X gender marker. This is a …

Despite President Biden’s historic leadership in explaining the case for the freedom to marry here in the United States, the Biden-Harris State Department still prohibits U.S. embassies from discussing marriage equality abroad. Together with Freedom to Marry, we took a moment to talk about the "forced neutrality" policy - and how we end it.

Why Are U.S. Embassies Prohibited from Explaining Our Country’s Embrace of the Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex Couples as a Fundamental Human Right? October 20, 2021 – This week, sixty-one House Democrats led by Representatives Castro, Cicilline, and Titus sent a letter to the State Department calling for an end its forced neutrality policy tha…

Yesterday, we joined 5 other LGBTQ+ rights organizations in calling on the Biden Administration to protect LGBTQ Afghan refugees. Read more:

Ten-Point Plan to Protect LGBTQI Afghan Refugees September 9, 2021 – Organizations specializing in support for LGBTQI refugees released a letter today calling on the Biden Administration to adopt an urgent, ten-point plan to protect and safely re…

Jim Hormel’s nomination came at a volatile time in our country’s efforts to grapple with LGBT rights. But his recess appointment proved that a gay man can represent his country fully and ably.
We will forever remember him for doing exactly that p and today we join so many others in thanking him and his family for a life well-lived.

The Passing of Ambassador Jim Hormel The Council for Global Equality adds these reflections to those offered by others on last week’s passing of Jim Hormel. The Council’s work is guided by the belief that at home and abroad, members o…

As a community, having someone in leadership who understands the development needs of LGBTQI+ people at this moment at the Asian Development Bank will be key to helping lift the most marginalized and vulnerable amongst us out of poverty. The nomination of Chantale Wong as Director of the Asian Development Bank with the rank of Ambassador cannot be understated.

Long Overdue Milestone Achieved: The Exceptional Nomination of Chantale Wong The United States of America has finally nominated its first open le***an for an Ambassador-ranked position, almost 30 years after our first openly gay Ambassador (James Hormel) was considered by P…

Last week, the Biden administration announced our friend Jessica Stern, Executive Director of our partner organization Outright International, as the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. We’re beyond thrilled — for her and for our country!
With the Biden administration having explicitly committed U.S. foreign affairs agencies to advance a genuinely LGBTQI-affirming human rights policy, we’ve identified the 5 key diplomatic objectives on LGBTQI+ issues — and how the Special Envoy can advance them.

White House Announces New Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons The Council for Global Equality congratulates Jessica Stern, tapped by the White House to serve as the State Department’s next Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. The Special Env…

Our goal — that of advancing the human rights and community inclusion of LGBTQI people everywhere — is grounded in American principles and values, not in the partisan gamesmanship in which so many seem to revel.

But when gamesmanship intrudes on principle, we call it out. And so we call on Senate Republicans to allow Uzra Zeya’s nomination as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights to advance in the Senate.

The State Department Needs Human Rights Leadership: Confirm Uzra Zeya Now June 9, 2021 — The Council for Global Equality focuses on policies, not politics. Our goal — that of advancing the human rights and community inclusion of LGBTQI people everywhere — is grounded in…

Today, we celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), commemorating the day in 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declassified homosexuality as a "mental health disorder." In doing so, we must reflect on how far we've come - and how far we still have to go in the name of equality.

Celebrating IDAHOBIT May 17, 2021 – Today, we celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). We welcome President Biden’s statement commemorating the date.…

Last week, Antony Blinken announced the 2020 Human Rights Report, a Congressionally-mandated review of the human rights records of every country across the globe. CGE leadership dove right in, dissecting its findings and points for improvement.
Here're the key take-aways going forward:

Standing for the Rights of LGBTQI Persons in the State Department’s Annual Human Rights Reports March 31, 2021 – Secretary of State Blinken yesterday released the State Department’s 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, and they reveal an all-too-familiar story of broad societal and…