GLIFAA

GLIFAA (Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies) is the officially recognized organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender etc. (LGBT+) personnel and their families in the United States Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and other agencies and entities working in foreign affairs in the U.S. Government. The acronym comes from its original name, Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies. As of 2014, the organization goes by GLIFAA and uses the slogan "LGBT+ pride in foreign affairs agencies" to underscore its inclusive composition. GLIFAA was founded in 1992 by fewer than a dozen employees who faced official harassment and potential loss of their jobs simply because of their sexual orientation. The organization has grown to hundreds of Foreign Service, Civil Service, and contract personnel and their families serving in Washington, throughout the U.S., and at U.S. embassies and missions around the world. Members also include retirees and straight allies in government agencies, while other supporters are affiliate members.[1]

GLIFAA
AbbreviationGLIFAA
MottoLGBT+ pride in foreign affairs agencies
Formation1992
PurposeLesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employee organization for the US State Department, USAID and other foreign affairs agencies in the US government.
Websitewww.glifaa.org

Among other accomplishments, GLIFAA succeeded in pressing for the issuance of a non-discrimination policy by Secretary of State Warren Christopher in 1994, and worked with the U.S. Administration, the management of government agencies, and other employee associations to eliminate barriers for obtaining security clearances and create and implement non-discrimination policies with regard to entry and employment in the U.S. Foreign Service and Civil Service.[2] In addition, the organization worked to improve the situation for the partners of LGBT U.S. Foreign Service personnel serving overseas.[3] GLIFAA met with Secretaries of State Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Clinton.[4]

History of LGBT Americans in diplomacy

Prior to the early 1990s, homosexuality was grounds for exclusion from the U.S. Foreign Service (diplomatic corps) and many positions in the Civil Service. Numerous individuals were dismissed from their positions in the State Department and in the U.S. government because of their sexual orientation.[5] This happened particularly in the 1950s and 60's, during what has been called the "Lavender Scare" against sexual minorities in the U.S. government, linked to the McCarthy-inspired campaign against perceived communist sympathizers.[6]

The first publicly gay U.S. ambassador was Ambassador to Luxembourg James Hormel, who was appointed by President Clinton and sworn in by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1999. Hormel was admitted into his position through a recess appointment, without confirmation of the U.S. Senate. The second publicly gay U.S. ambassador, and the first publicly gay Foreign Service officer to be appointed as ambassador, was U.S. Ambassador to Romania Michael E. Guest, who was appointed by President George W. Bush and in 2001 sworn in by Secretary of State Colin Powell. Bush also appointed publicly gay physician Mark R. Dybul as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, with the rank of ambassador. In December 2009, Vice President Joseph Biden swore in publicly gay lawyer David Huebner, as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa.[7]

GLIFAA's advocacy and efforts
GLIFAA members at the White House in 2009

In January 2009, GLIFAA handed to Secretary of State Clinton a letter signed by 2200 foreign affairs employees requesting that a number of key benefits be extended to same-sex domestic partners of LGBT personnel at the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies.[8] The organization noted that these were benefits that could be accorded without violating the Defense of Marriage Act, which sharply curtails the ability of the U.S. federal government to assist LGBT families in some ways.[9] In May 2009, an internal State Department memo extended a number of benefits to the same-sex partners of American diplomats, including diplomatic passports, use of medical facilities at overseas posts, medical and other emergency evacuation, transportation between posts, and training in security and languages.[10] In June 2009, President Obama signed a memorandum announcing these and number of other benefits for same-sex partners of government workers.[11] Many of the new benefits had come from GLIFAA's initial proposals.[12]

GLIFAA has held numerous events in Washington and at U.S. embassies around the world. For example, in July 2005 GLIFAA members held a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.[13] Speakers at GLIFAA events in Washington have included openly gay Congressman Jim Kolbe and Judy Shepard, mother of slain gay student Matthew Shepard.[4] In June 2010, Secretary of State Clinton and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah spoke at a GLIFAA-sponsored event at the main State Department building on the topic of "LGBT Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy."[14] At the event, Secretary Clinton stated that the U.S. government would take a more assertive role in protecting the rights of LGBT people and communities around the world.[15]

In October 2009, GLIFAA won the 2009 Out and Equal Workplace Award for its advocacy efforts.[16] Secretary of State Clinton videotaped a congratulatory message that was shown at the conference where the award was given.

Members

See also

Notes
  1. GLIFAA: "Mission", accessed February 3, 2011
  2. GLIFAA: "A 10th Anniversary Retrospective' Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011
  3. Washington Diplomat: Sanjay Talwani, "Gay Foreign Affairs Group Making Strides but Still Has Long To-Do List," December 2002 Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011
  4. GLIFAA: "History", accessed February 3, 2011; Queerty: "What Gays in the State Department Want Hillary Clinton to Change," February 6, 2009, accessed February 3, 2011
  5. GLIFAA: "1950 Congressional Hearing on Homosexuals in Government" Archived 2011-08-03 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011
  6. David K. Johnson, The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004), ISBN 0-226-40481-1
  7. Huffington Post: Steve Clemons, "Joe Biden Swears in David Huebner for New Zealand Ambassadorship," December 4, 2009, accessed February 3, 2011
  8. GLIFAA: "Letter to the Secretary of State," January 26, 2009 Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011
  9. U.S. Department of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton, "Remarks to the Members of Gays an Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA)," October 22, 2009, accessed February 3, 2011
  10. New York Times: Mark Landler, "Diplomats’ Same-Sex Partners to Get Benefits," May 23, 2009, accessed February 3, 2011]
  11. CNN: "Obama OKs some benefits for employees' same-sex partners," June 17, 2009, accessed February 3, 2011
  12. Change.gov: "Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies," January 15, 2009 Archived June 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011; "Letter to Transition Team," December 5, 2008, accessed February 3, 2011
  13. "Washington Blade". Archived from the original on May 27, 2006.
  14. U.S. Department of State: Secretary Clinton and USAID Administrator Shah to Deliver Remarks at Event Celebrating LGBT Month on June 22," June 18, 2010, accessed February 3, 2011
  15. U.S. Department of State: Hillary Rodham Clinton, "Remarks at an Event Celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Month," June 22, 2010, accessed February 3, 2011
  16. GLIFAA: "GLIFAA Wins the 2009 Out and Equal Workplace Advocate Award" Archived 2011-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, accessed February 3, 2011
  17. Itkowitz, Colby (November 17, 2014). "Senate clears four ambassador nominees". Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  18. Lavers, Michael K. (December 10, 2014). "Gay man sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Vietnam". Washington Blade. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  19. "Veteran Gay Diplomat Confirmed as Ambassador to Lithuania". www.advocate.com. December 20, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
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