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Greetings!
Hope you can make it out Today! to the Women's Happy Hour at Cafe Asia -- of course men are welcome to! We just want to celebrate and welcome lesbians involved in foreign affairs agencies.
Also, if you are interested in representing GLIFAA at the Pride Street Festival Sunday, June 15, please contact Public Affairs Director Ashton Giese at ashtonkg@gmail.com
-The GLIFAA Board
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Upcoming Events
GLIFAA Presents:
Women's Happy Hour Because we know you're out there!
Our board now includes four women - get to know them and help us address the concerns of lesbians in foreign affairs agencies.
Cafe Asia - Rosslyn
1550 Wilson Blvd.
Metro: Rosslyn (Orange/Blue Line)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
RSVP to GLIFAA President:
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GLIFAA Pride Parade Reception
Join us for refreshments and then show your Pride by marching with us in DC's Pride Parade!
This annual
event always brings everyone out to celebrate. This year it will be
hosted at Bob Gilchrist's home near the Parade staging area. We must
be ready to march at 6pm.
Be sure to wear polos or other garb from your overseas posts!
Bob Gilchrist's Home
2147 N Street NW
Apt C
Metro: Dupont Circle
Saturday, June 14, 2008
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Look for an Evite - Coming soon!
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New GLIFAA Board Members!
Michelle Schohn, President
I joined the service after having been a Member of Household for two years while my partner, also a Foreign Service Officer, served in Azerbaijan. So I know first hand the experiences of both those serving in foreign affairs agencies and their partners and families.
The previous board was doing a great job, often behind the scenes, of working hard to advance our issues as GLBT members of foreign affairs agencies. Thanks to their good work, MOHs are now allowed to take some training and FSI, including the Security Overseas Seminar, and we are hopeful that there will be more to come. As your president, I plan to continue their good work. Specifically, I plan to work hard with allies in Congress to advance the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) and the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). These two bills would immensely improve the lives of all of the GLBT folks and the families who have chosen to serve our country in foreign affairs. Further, I plan, with the other members of the board, to continue to push the Department to make changes to its policies that can make GLBT employees and their families feel like welcome and appreciated parts of the foreign service community. Specifically, we will continue to push for more uniform adherence to the MOH policies, visas and employment for partners, access to the health care unit at post, and the myriad of other little (and not so little) things we are denied access to as GLBT employees and families.
As a board, we are working to establish good relationships with other affinity groups in the hopes of finding allies to help us advance our issues. And we will continue working to cultivate the good relations the previous board developed with the Director General, the Office of Civil Rights, and others within the Department. And this month, in honor of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, we have organized a variety of events we hope will inform you, entertain you, and inspire you to activism.
Further, I want to know what you, our members, are interested in seeing happen. Please feel free to contact me any time if you have questions or comments or feel there is an issue we need to pay closer attention to. For me personally, as an American Indian woman, I want to reach out particularly to other women and people of color to join us. We need each of you to be involved, in whatever way you can, because we are strongest when we all work together.
I hope to see many of you at Pride!
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Kerri Hannan, Policy Director
 While serving overseas at two posts, I worked to help create MOH policies and had positive experiences both times. However, I realize this is not always the case. I am distressed when I hear colleagues still face difficulties bringing a partner to post or navigating immigration requirements when returning to the United States with a foreign-born partner. I know new colleagues find it difficult searching for information about how the embassy community or host country will treat gay or lesbian employees and whether post management will even assist with a partner's visa. As a member of the GLIFAA Board, I want to increase membership and awareness of GLIFAA, make the organization a better resource and support system for gay and lesbian employees, and ensure all Department of State and USAID employees receive equal treatment.
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Interested in Becoming a Pearson?
Bid this year to work on Capitol Hill!
PEARSON PROGRAM
The Special Domestic Assignments Program is known as the Pearson Program in honor of former Senator James Pearson of Kansas, who sponsored the original enabling legislation. Foreign Service officers may be assigned under this program to work for a Member or office of the Congress.
Congressional Assignments
Under the Congressional Fellowship Program or the Pearson Program, up to twelve FSOs may be assigned to the Congress. Five Congressional Fellowships may be available, depending upon funding decisions. (Any cone, FO-01, 02 or 03)
Bidders for either the Congressional Fellowship Program or the Congressional Pearson Program are considered as a group and ranked by the selection committee without regard to program preference. Those ranked highest will be notified and asked to decide within five working days if they wish to accept a Congressional assignment. A choice of either program will be offered until Fellowship positions are filled.
Officers selected for these two programs must possess strong interpersonal skills and excellent analytical and drafting skills. They must be imaginative and flexible, able to adapt easily and quickly to the very different bureaucratic style of a busy Congressional office. Candidates who have approximately ten years' experience, both overseas and in Washington, are typically the most competitive for this program. Most often, the officers selected are at the FO-02 level, although 0ls and 03s are also chosen.
Bid narratives should include a brief statement of objectives in applying for a Congressional assignment. Participants in both programs will be given prime consideration by H for onward assignment as Legislative Management Officers, and bidders are encouraged to address onward assignment goals and how Congressional experience relates to these goals. Officers should not approach Congressional offices before being paneled for the program. Specific assignments will be determined in consultation with H.
Pearson Program officers are assigned for one year to work for a Member or committee of Congress. After being paneled, Pearson Program officers should work with H for specific assignments.
Typically, Pearson officers are assigned the duties of a Legislative Assistant, responsible for foreign affairs issues and domestic issues. Activities may include preparing briefings for the Member, drafting statements, speeches, and material for hearings, meeting with constituents, and working with other Congressional offices, the media, and executive branch agencies. Pearson officers should plan to begin work no later than the first week in September when Congress reconvenes. Officers returning from overseas may consult with H to begin the process of seeking a position before arrival in the United States but may be asked to interview in person before a position is formally offered.
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A New Global Network: Be a GLIFAA Post Representative
FSOs as well as MOHs Welcome to Participate!
"Hi, I'm being transferred to Kerblekistan - are there any GLIFAA members there who could give me info about post?"
We know our members are everywhere, but for too long we haven't had
a way to effectively get information from the field. Our new network
of GLIFAA Post Representatives will fill that void. Even if you are
the only GLIFAA member at post, we hope you'll volunteer. You'll be
called upon everytime we get an email asking for info at post, you'll
join a special listserve for Post Reps worldwide to share best
practices, and you'll serve as a channel for communication to and from
Washington.
The basic time commitment will be extremely minimal (~1 hour/month)
but those interested in doing more certainly can. Help your post's
Human Rights person learn more about conditions for LGBT persons in
your country of assignment, network with Human Rights advocacy groups
stateside or in your country of assignment, help us with our advocacy
work in Washington - whatever interests you.
Make our network truly global - make sure your post volunteers a representative.
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Out in Africa?
Usually its forbidden!
The International Lesbian and Gay Association (Ilga) reports that 38 African countries still criminalise consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults and there have been many cases of victimisation across the continent, with new laws passed to limit gay and lesbian activity.
In line with its Constitution South Africa passed the Civil Union Act in 2006, making it possible for gay and lesbian couples to marry. In 2007 gay and lesbian activists met in Johannesburg, under the aegis of Ilga and local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexed (LGBTI) organisations, to discuss lesbian and gay rights and activism in Africa. The editors of a new book, To Have and to Hold: The Making of Same-Sex Marriage in South Africa, interviewed several activists about rights in their countries. These are excerpts from their responses.
What is the situation for lesbian and gay people in your country?
David Kato, Uganda (organisation: Integrity, a faith-based member of Sexual Minorities Uganda): The authorities are still harassing us and arresting us. But we are encouraging and sensitising the LGBTI people in our country not to give in to blackmail from the police, but rather to take the case to court so that we can ask the government why Uganda is not acting in accordance with the international covenants it signed. Uganda is one of the signatories of many international covenants that talk about non-discrimination.
But when they come back from signing, the Constitution is not changed. One of the objectives of Integrity [and Sexual Minorities Uganda] is to fight the legal system and the discriminatory laws. We try to advocate and lobby organisations and decision-makers to fight these laws. We need to remove the idea our leaders have that this is a white thing.
Linda Baumann, Namibia (The Rainbow Project): Namibia's population is 1,8-million, which is about the same size as that of Soweto. But the level of homophobia is high. I live in a township where I still face homophobia. I am told to be careful - "Jy moet oppas, ons gaan jou kry [You must watch out, we're going to get you]". The hate crimes are also high. Last year The Rainbow Project started documenting some of the hate crimes, including two gay men who were killed. We also have a lot of lesbians and gay men who experience "correctional rape". But people do not speak about it.
There is no law in Namibia that explicitly says homosexuality is illegal. Chapter 3 of the Namibian Constitution speaks about fundamental human rights and that gives LGBTI people some room to manoeuvre ... Most of our politicians do not really want to sit down with the LGBTI community and talk about their issues. It is often said that homosexuality is unAfrican.
Lourence Misedah, Kenya (Ishtar MSM): Currently it is illegal to be gay or lesbian in Kenya. There are some gays and lesbians who are publicly out in Kenya.
But this involves risks... We [are] tired of politicians in Kenya saying that we do not exist and that homosexuality is unAfrican.
Naome Ruzindana, Rwanda (Horizon Community Association): It says in the penal code of Rwanda that whoever is found guilty of homosexuality is to be put in prison. A while back they announced they are going to change the penal code. We are waiting for that to be finalised.
Reverend Rowland Jide Macauley, Nigeria (House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church): Same-sex relationships are prohibited [in Nigeria] ... This law was inherited from the colonial era and it has remained on Nigeria's statute books up to today. In 2006 the Nigerian government introduced the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill. The Bill is an attempt to ban homosexuality and gay marriage and it seeks to push away the issue of homosexuality or any association with it - including gathering literature, attending lectures or anything to do with same-sex relationships. There is homophobia on every street in Nigeria.
If you are gay and it becomes public knowledge, people taunt you, they verbally abuse you ... people have suffered homophobic attacks and violence.
What are the possibilities for law reform in your country?
Kato: If we begin asking for marriage now our mission will backfire. They will think we're just looking for sex. What we need is to be tolerated and to have the same rights as other people ... to break down discriminatory laws.
Baumann: One of the challenges that we face is that people are afraid to be seen. You can count on your hands the strong gay activists in Namibia who are out and proud and able to speak.
Ruzindana: Rwanda is a sensitive country. This is true even of the human rights defenders who are there. They fear the government and they have not helped us at all. Is there potential for these kinds of changes in Rwanda? Maybe in 10 years!
How do you feel about the fact that same-sex couples can now get married in South Africa?
Kato: Since Integrity is a Christian organisation, love has no barriers for us. Some people think marriage is just about getting children out of it.
But not all heterosexual couples produce children. They forget that marriage is also about companionship and love for each other.
Baumann: I am proud that at least one African country has achieved this. South Africa is setting an example for the whole African continent.
Misedah: The situation we have right now in Kenya is that we first still need to be recognised before we can reach that point.
For example, I can be chased out of school because of my sexual orientation, or thrown out by landlords. This is what we want to address first before we start talking about marriage.
Ruzindana: I was listening to the radio when I heard about the same-sex marriage law being passed in South Africa. The listeners said that this news should not even be announced on the radio in Rwanda! I know that same-sex marriage is difficult for some to understand, but there are people who got the message.
To Have and to Hold: The Making of Same-Sex Marriage in South Africa is edited by Melanie Judge, Anthony Manion and Shaun de Waal, and published by Fanele. It will be launched at the Apartheid Museum on May 24. For more information on LGBTI rights in Africa, go to www.mask.org.za
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FSO or MOH Blogging?!
Michelle Schohn is looking for FSOs and/or MOHs with blogs about their experiences abroad!
The MOH Network has been having a lively discussion on Yahoo-Groups and the Board encorages MOHs to participate! Email moderator Emil.Stalis@tufts.edu if you cannot access the homepage of the network Please provide identifying information (employee of which
organization, or MOH of which employee who is at which organization) so that
you can be verified prior to being part of the group.
For those of
wanting to "institutionalize" your experiences, here is one great
example: lifeafterjerusalem.blogspot.com.
Michelle Schohn is
looking to create links from her blog to any of the blogs of other FSOs
and/or MOHs, in particular who have stories about MOH issues. If you
have a blog and are willing to let Michelle put a link to your blog on her
blog, please email her.
And if you're still not convinced,
Michelle, a Public Diplomacy professional, says "I think blogs are a good
way to let people know what life is like in the FS, whether as an employee,
spouse/partner (same or opposite sex) or family member. And for those of us
with MOH or partner issues, it is an excellent way to get the word out on what
we deal with!" "The MOH Network" is a discussion group for all individuals who fall into the classification of Members of Household as defined in 3 FAM 4180 and their partners/sponsors. A MOH is anyone accompanying a Foreign Service Officer to post. This includes parents, partners, (opposite sex, same sex), and children over age 21. In other words-anyone who is not mentioned on an officer's orders. The MOH Network is a venue for MOHs to seek out resources and information. It is also a place for individuals to share strategies, vent frustration and most important - find support.
Employees are requested to please share this
information with their family members.
Sign up: MOH_Network-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Contact:
Member_of_Household@yahoo.com |
GLIFAA's Advocacy Campaign Wants Your Story Heard!
We're gearing up for a big year - a new President will be coming in, a
new Secretary - and a new Congress! The time to prepare is now.
GLIFAA is drafting a series of advocacy materials on issues that affect
our members, and nothing is more powerful than a first-hand story. How
are you being hurt by the Department's policies? How is your family
being hurt by the Defense of Marriage Act? Please write your stories
(between 1 paragraph and 1 page) and send them to glifaa@yahoo.com. We'll use them as best we can to get our message across. To get you inspired, here are two stories from other members:
"I was in the Army and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom
until March 2005. I joined the Foreign Service in October 2005, and
soon after shipped out to India with my partner Ales. I'm due to
return to Washington for eight months of language training, and the
cost of plane tickets aside, I'm worried that Ales won't even be
allowed to enter the country for the full eight months, because he can
only qualify for an ordinary tourist visa. All I ask is for us to
enter my country together - the same country I fought for in Iraq and
the same country I still love and serve today."
- Vice-Consul Ralan Hill, currently serving in Kolkata, India
"When
my partner landed in Chicago, Immigration grilled him for two hours.
They accused him of being illegal, overstaying, you name it. They
found my business card in his luggage and demanded an explanation - as
if it was inappropriate for him to have it. He patiently explained the
situation numerous times, and was eventually released - but with
permission to stay for only three months. Incidentally, two of my
colleagues from Sao Paulo met their [opposite-sex] spouses after JP and
I met. They both are now U.S. citizens traveling on Diplomatic
passports."
- Foreign Service Officer Keith Gilges, currently serving in Washington, DC
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| Did you serve in Iraq or Afghanistan??
GLIFAA would like to compile a list of GLBT members who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Even if you feel that you do not want to provide your name, please let us know so you can be counted. This type of information will help show our leadership the committment that gay members have to our work - as well as show a real need to provide equal treatment. Please email glifaa@yahoo.com
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