On Wednesday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, voted to pass H.R. 3485, the Global Respect Act. This bipartisan legislation requires the President to prevent individuals who commit gross human rights violations against LGBTQ+ people from entering into the United States and would codify reporting on the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons abroad.
"Thousands of people around the world are targeted for harassment, attack, arrest, and murder because of their sexual orientation or gender identity each year," said Congressman Pappas. "It is unacceptable that those who commit crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals often do so without repercussions or consequences. This legislation would ensure a measure of protection by banning anyone who has committed gross human rights violations against the LGBTQ+ community from entering the United States. There is still much more work that must be done to ensure equality and security for LGBTQ+ people in this country and across the globe, but this legislation brings us closer to achieving justice and holding those who violate the human rights of LGBTQ+ people accountable. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up and pass this legislation at once."
The Global Respect Act is supported by Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, Council for Global Equality, PFLAG National, Rainbow Railroad, American Jewish World Service, and International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region.
Pappas helped introduce the Equality Act and is an original co-sponsor of that legislation which amends existing civil rights statutes to provide LGBTQ+ Americans with the same protections all other Americans enjoy in key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, public services, and education. The Equality Act has overwhelming public support, with more than 7 in 10 Americans supporting it.
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