MS STERN: Hello, everybody. (Cheers.) Can you hear me in the back?
AUDIENCE: Yes.
MS STERN: And can you hear me in the back? (Cheers.) All right, excellent. Well, Happy Pride. (Cheers and applause.) My name is Jessica Stern and I’m the U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex persons. Welcome. (Cheers.) Yeah, you can applaud. (Applause.) Welcome, everyone, to the Secretary of State’s Pride Reception. (Cheers.) I am delighted to see so many of you here. It never gets old celebrating LGBTQI+ rights in the Ben Franklin Room at the State Department. Am I right? (Cheers and applause.)
I want to start by giving my deepest appreciation to the Secretary of State’s team for enabling this to happen. (Cheers.) You’re here tonight because you know that LGBTQI+ people globally need full equality, and you know it is not yet a reality. The Secretary will speak shortly so I won’t enumerate the successes and the setbacks, but what I will do is emphasize that while there have been successes, progress is also tenuous, and there is a global backlash against LGBTQI+ persons’ safety and dignity everywhere in the world today. And that is why we continue the fight.
This is why it makes me so proud to tell you that today is a momentous day. We just held a conference here at the Department of State: U.S. Foreign Policy, National Security, Inclusive Development, and the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons. And yes, I said a conference was momentous. (Laughter.)
The President honored the convening by sending a message that now must become essential reading. He wrote, quote: “Protecting the rights and liberties of LGBTQI+ people strengthens democracy, enhances security, supports economic development, and protects public health both at home and overseas.” Your commitment to the global LGBTQI community – yes, you – everyone in this room here tonight – is helping forge a future in which everyone can live with dignity.
Today was the first time in United States history that three cabinet officials – Secretary Blinken; Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield; U.S Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and Ambassador Tai; U.S Trade Representative – explained why protecting LGBTQI+ rights is integral to U.S national security and foreign policy more generally. Can we give that a round of applause? (Cheers and applause.)
We also heard from senior officials across government agencies including White House USAID HHS describe whole-of-government approach LGBTQI inclusion US foreign policy including public health development assistance Today launched annual Progress Report Implementation Presidential Memorandum Advancing Human Rights LBGTQI Persons Around World It succinct readable Thank wonks applauding government report Laughter See my people
The report online now please read share friend think tells story inclusive foreign policy matters Each example today shows our commitment creating an LGBTQI+-inclusive US foreign policy matters work yielding tangible results LGBTQI persons daily lives
So pivoting from that want reflect something fabulous got do yesterday Last night great pleasure attending Pride picnic South Lawn White House Maybe some were there as well Cheers spite 100-degree heat Laughter paid attention crowd jubilant stately columns adorned rainbow arrived every attendee handed fan simply said “White House Pride” speeches ended temperature cooled golden evening sun thought about much meant personally member community everyone happened not endured tolerated or celebrated Every LGBTQ person everywhere should be respected valued family community government Applause
Walked towards exit hand hand partner mom took scene saw two gay men walking dressed button-down shirts crisply ironed pants don’t know how pants wrinkled another question Laughter But dared show rare thing love affection between gay men public Headed towards Metro lesbian moms wearing sensible shoes Laughter cargo shorts Laughter Their kids wore rainbow suspenders carried ice cream sandwiches showed children loved LGBTQ parents families deserve recognition Applause
And saw trans teens one pink hair one rainbow extensions living best life Laughter feeling beauty walking out White House thought about world live everyday maybe isn’t beautiful wished moment go forever
Against fear world signal truth lost noise hostile fiction choose focus work ahead us people room around world rooms maybe not fancy but much heart determinedly persistently pursuing progress When path feels uncertain find grounded knowable We are here always been here going away Cheers applause
It now great pleasure welcome podium Secretary Blinken Thank all Happy Pride Cheers applause
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good evening everyone
AUDIENCE: Good evening
SECRETARY BLINKEN: All right welcome State Department Welcome Ben Franklin Room Happy Pride each every one Cheers applause Now give minute remarkable envoy do not want get between Jessica problem trying solve Laughter know increasingly knows Cheers applause To team thank extraordinary leadership show every single day
Jessica background advocate human rights researcher NGO leader Bringing experience bear assembling remarkable team making difference around world talk little bit moments To friends colleagues department partners celebrating Pride welcome special thanks glifaa board members remarkable resource employees US foreign policy agencies families deeply value what do every single day Thank Applause
Special evening special month reaffirm whole-of-government commitment LGBTQI rights Not just one month one evening 365 days year has been priority President Biden day one administration heard Jessica talk first signed executive order says this says human beings shall treated respect dignity should able live without fear matter who whom love Defending promoting globally right thing beyond smart necessary thing country national security well-being Why pretty basic If look around countries respect healthier prosperous democratic Those not direct correlation societies see everyday
Now heard Jessica say well This work increasingly urgent seen remarkable progress seen backsliding backlashes democracies non-democracies alike Governments criminalizing same-sex conduct status denying equal rights normalizing violence To President vital part foreign policy action make sure department working stand wherever challenged Convening talked first-ever US Government policy convening made clear participated matters fundamental part efforts advancing those who participated chance hear cabinet members senior officials partners governments civil society Congress important learning experience opportunity listen learn advocates colleagues
Hope people come away energized coordinated prepared take challenge better than yesterday Now know better anyone Change doesn’t happen automatically overnight takes incredible effort road traveled long road ahead Hope inspired progress seen energized Seven nations decriminalized conduct over last two years Greece Liechtenstein Thailand voted marriage equality year Cheers applause The led way Human Rights Council resolution protecting intersex persons Applause Each step builds other Take may notice after while steps building actually traveled somewhere moving forward continue move forward
All progress possible truly extraordinary people human rights defenders local leaders international partners number proud leadership engage share knowledge lead We move needle Seen action all over thanks Jessica short while ago met counterparts president country criminalizing homosexuality One things talked meeting besides various issues bilateral agenda deep concerns United States sodomy law books Months preceded ambassador senior officials raised concern question Washington community profoundly informed ultimately verge implemented agreed acknowledged outdated didn’t serve sent nationwide directive apply That American diplomacy action concerted effort across determined keep doing Applause
Emphasize As much will cannot alone Only working together civil society foreign private sector stakeholders issue make really difference So pleased many looking see many mission endeavor thank partnership committed determined your determination courage resilience persistence make difference celebrate tonight next 364 days advance Thank being Happy Pride Thank Applause
