|
|
Greetings!
Hope you enjoyed our June Pride events. Our next major event will be the Summer Open Board Meeting Meeting on Wednesday, July 30th.
Please help us by sending in your testimonials about challenges being LGBT at State or in the federal government. And see the letter from the Office of Civil Rights at State below.
Also, if you missed it - take a look at GLIFAA's press release regarding Iraq Service Recognition benefits from last week.
-The GLIFAA Board
|
Upcoming Events
GLIFAA Presents:
Open Board Meeting/Dinner All GLIFAA Members and Friends are Welcome!
Join us at "The Thai Place" near Washington Circle as we will enjoy dinner and drinks together.
The Thai Place - Foggy Bottom
2134 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Metro: Foggy Bottom
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
PLEASE! -- RSVP to GLIFAA: glifaa@yahoo.com
-----------------------------------------------
Lunch with USAID LGBT Colleagues Join Fellow GLIFAA Members at USAID!
Come join an open lunch at noon on July 17th at the Commerce cafeteria with a group of LGBT colleagues and friends from USAID.
Commerce Cafeteria
Thursday, July 17, 2008
12:00 - 1:00 pm
|
Office of Civil Rights Outreach
OCR Letter to GLIFAA Membership
June 25, 2008
To All GLIFAA Members:
Let me introduce myself as the relatively new Director of the Office of Civil Rights (S/OCR) and Chief Diversity Officer. I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Kerri Hannan and Michelle Schohn from your leadership. Further, on June 20, Ms. Hannan participated in S/OCR's first gathering of affinity group leaders. All agreed that it was a good begining.
...
Although Lesbian and Gay Pride Month has concluded, I want to emphasize that there are no temporal boundaries for our collaboration.
Toward that end here are three items I'd like you to consider:
1. Present to S/OCR a collection of personal essays, with or without authors' identities, candidly describing their challenges at State in the context of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. S/OCR will publish the essays share them with FSI and use them in our traning presentations, e.g. A100, Ambassadorial/DCM seminars, etc.
2. All affinity groups will be asked to submit a brief description of their organization, goals, and observations to share with newly appointed and current department leadership during the administration transition. I anticipate that this written compilation will result in a forum with new political leaders as part of their introduction to State.
3. S/OCR would like to collaborate with your membership to host an open forum on "Challenges at State for GLIFAA members." A mutually agreed upon format, time, and audience will be determined.
4. Please discuss these options and indicate where you think we can best find common ground and participate in beneficial activites. S/OCR is located in Room 7428, Main State. I look forward to meeting more of your members soon.
Sincerely,
John M. Robinson
Director, Office of Civil Rights
Cheif Diversity Officer
(202) 647-9295
Other Contacts:
David J. King, Diversity Outreach Manager
Verena Sander, Diversity Outreach Manager
Somer Bessire, Diversity Outreach Manager
Shireen Dodson, Special Assistant to the Director |
GLIFAA Celebrates Pride!
Joseph Trong Discusses the GLIFAA People of Color Event at Teaism
About a dozen people came for a lively GLIFAA Pride gathering for LGBT people of color and allies the evening of June 10, 2008, at the Teaism Penn Quarter in Washington DC, to meet, catch up and network.
During the informal two hour event, attendees spoke about items of personal interest such as upcoming trips abroad and Arabic language classes, as well as professional development and opportunities available, such as USAID's push for new junior Foreign Service Officers. Another useful topic that was discussed at length was the benefits of progressive fellowships such as the International Career Advancement Program, held annually at the University of Denver. In fact, several of those attending the gathering were program alumni, and came in support after the International Career Advancement Association, ICAP's alumni network, helped spread word of the event. For new staff members to federal foreign affairs agencies, the event was particularly encouraging, as it not only showed visibly that a core of LGBT POC and allies does exist within and across these agencies, but also that a support network is readily available to turn to.
In describing the context for the event, organizer Ajit Joshi wrote, "It strikes me that June Pride is a great month to honor everyone - gay and straight - those who are actively making bridges among minority groups along lines of race, national origin, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, and gender identity - whether as straight allies, activists, or as out LGBT folks of color."
GLIFAA Pride Parade Marchers Show their colors after the GLIFAA Pride Reception |
|
Ajit Joshi Attends EPA Pride Event with HRC President Joe Solmonese
I attended EPA's Pride Month event on June 11. I'm pleased that USAID senior leadership in attendance included five senior staff, in particular, the Acting Deputy Administrator, the Counselor to the Agency, and the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Asia Bureau participated in the event.
During the keynote speech, Joe Solmonese estimated that the federal government would score between 15 to 30% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index. The HRC Corporate Equality Index 2008 Report rated 519 companies on LGBT workplace fairness. Eight of the top 20 Fortune-ranked companies (General Motors, Chevron, Ford, Citigroup, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America, JP Morgan) received 100 % ratings. The index provides a benchmark for businesses and employees to gauge their relative success against their competitors. For example, a USAID partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, received a 100% score.
Selection criteria include prohibition based on sexual orientation, diversity training including sexual orientation, prohibition of discrimination based on gender identity or expression, diversity training including gender identity or supportive gender transition guidelines, transgender wellness benefit, domestic partner health insurance, dental/vision/COBRA benefits for partners, three other benefits for partners, an employee resource group or diversity council, appropriate and respectful advertising/marketing, and responsible behavior towards the LGBT community.
Based on a quick review, I have rated USAID and State. It seems that USAID is doing better than the 15 to 30% that Joe Solomnese estimated at the EPA Pride event; if we worked with HRC to actually fill out the survey for USAID and State, I think we could score as high as 50. I don't know how other foreign affairs agencies (Foreign Commercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Peace Corps, Millennium Challenge Corporation would fare. I encourage GLIFAA members at those organizations to do a quick analysis to see where they may fall).
Here's my analysis of USAID:
- Prohibition based on sexual orientation - 15 out of 15
- Diversity training including sexual orientation - 5 out of 15
- EEO policy includes gender identity or expression - 0 out of 5
- Gender identity diversity training offered or supportive gender transition guidelines in place - 0 out of 5
- Transgender wellness benefit (insurance includes access for transitioning individuals) - 0 out of 5
- Domestic partner health insurance - 0 out of 5
- Dental/vision/COBRA benefits for partners - 0 out of 5
- Other benefits for partners - 0 out of 5
- A LGBT employee resource group or diversity council - 15 out of 15
- Appropriate and respectful advertising/marketing or sponsors GLBT community events - 15 out of 15*
- Responsible behavior towards the LGBT community (area of index that would detract, if USAID actively undermined LGBT equality we would have received negative points).
*Though I'm willing to give us a full score, I think we need to talk about sexual orientation like any other form of discrimination more regularly.
|
| LGBT Issues in the News:
Retiring with Equality
Blade Article on Federal Availabliity of Federal Pensions for Same-sex partners
Reuters Article on Bi-National Couples Marrying in California
Government Executive Article on Congressional Action for same sex benefits |
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.
|
|
US State Department Leg Affairs (H) Responds to Hon. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Several House Members wrote Secretary Rice in February outlining the needs of GLBT foreign service officers. This is the response from Legislative Affairs at State (H), followed by another letter from Congress, and another H response.
Dear Ms. Baldwin:
Thank you for your letter of February 2l regarding the State Department's treatment of gay and lesbian Foreign Service Officers and their partners.
The Department hires, recruits, assigns, and promotes employees without regard to sexual orientation. To this end, we treat same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried partners of U.S. Government employees stationed abroad in an equivalent manner.
The Department affords certain benefits, as set forth within the personnel section of the Foreign Affairs Manual (at 3 FAM 4180), to the unmarried partners of employees, regardless of their sexual orientation. For the unmarried partners of employees overseas, those benefits include assistance in obtaining appropriate residency permits and travel visas in accordance with local law, consideration for Mission employment if legal requirements are met, inclusion in the Mission warden system and Mission phone book, and inclusion on the same basis as spouses in all events sanctioned by Missions.
The Director General announced in February that the Security Overseas Seminar, a two-day course at the Foreign Service Institute that is mandatory for all employees prior to their first overseas assignment, would be open to all family members and members of household, including unmarried partners. The Department extended access to security training to members of households in the firm belief that they can be at risk because of
their association with us and, as residents of our households and participants in the Embassy community, can positively contribute to our collective safety.
We hope that this information has been helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey T. Bergner
Assistant Secretary
Legislative Affairs
Congressional Response:
Dear Madam Secretary:
We write to express our disappointment with Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs
Jeffrey T. Bergner's April 17tn letter written in response to our February 21't letter urging you to act through your leadership as Secretary to eliminate inequities facing gays and lesbians at the State Department.
Mr. Bergner's response was unsatisfactory. He cites a limited range of actions that embassies may currently take in support of unmarried partners of Foreign Service Officers (FSOs). We are acutely aware of the limitations facing gay and lesbian Foreign Services Officers and their partners; the central motivation for our initial letter was to request that you consider providing comparable benefits, protections, and services to those enjoyed by family members of married FSOs. And while we were pleased to learn that your Director General has, at last, opened the Security Overseas Seminar to all family members, we would appreciate an explanation of why other partner-related security issues (i.e. health services and evacuation assistance) cannot currently be made available under the same rationale.
Given that Mr. Bergner's letter does not address many of the points raised in our initial
letter, we write again to urge that you take the initiative in addressing the following policy areas:
- Inclusion in travel orders for same-sex domestic partners of FSOs
- Access to training, including language classes, for same-sex domestic partners of FSOs
- Emergency evacuation and medevac from post when necessary for same-sex domestic partners of FSOs
- Access to post health units for same-sex domestic partners of FSOs
- Visa support for same-sex domestic partners accompanying FSOs to overseas postings, and for same-sex foreign-born domestic partners accompanying FSOs to postings in Washington or elsewhere in the U.S.
- Preferential status for employment at post comparable to that enjoyed by Eligible Family Members (EFMs) for same-sex domestic partners of FSOs
As we already stated, many of these changes might be efficiently addressed through the inclusion of same-sex domestic partners under the definition of an EFM in the Foreign
Service Standardized Regulation 040(m). None of the changes above are contrary to the letter or spirit of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Madame Secretary, we again look to your personal leadership on this issue, in the interest of mission effectiveness, workplace equity, and fairness for those who sacrifice so much for our country. We would be pleased to work with you and look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
Tammy Baldwin
Member of Congress
Howard Berman
Member of Congress
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Coneress
Gary Ackerman
Member of Congress
Leg Affairs 2nd Response:
Dear Ms. Baldwin:
Thank you for your letter of May 7 regarding the State Department's treatment of gay and lesbian Foreign Service Officers and their partners.
The Department believes that treatment of Members of House hold (MOH) is a matter of great importance. We are currently examining initiatives that would address some of your concerns, taking into account statutory and procedural requirements and any resource considerations. We will keep you in formed of our progress in this regard.
Please note that MOH concerns are not limited to the Department's treatment of same sex partners. This is a much broader issue that could affect many Department employees, as well as those of other agencies with personnel stationed abroad. Members of Household include all unmarried partners, parents, children, and even siblings who, despite being adults, are reliant on our Foreign Service members to comprise their households. Any change to our regulations must take into account this broader picture.
We hope this information is helpful to you. Please do not hestiate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey T. Bergner
Assistant Secretary
Legislative Affairs |
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
|
Budapest Pride Disrupted
Embassy Responds to Violence
2,000 paraders for Budapest Gay Pride on July 5 were pelted with eggs, tomatoes, bottles, cobblestones, and other objects despite a police escort. Once the parade reached Heroes Square, its destination, counter-demonstrators added Molotov cocktails and chemicals to the mix. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, and pushed paraders into a nearby subway stop for their protection, through which they eventually escaped. Fourteen people (demonstrators, counter-demonstrators, police) were hospitalized.
The US Embassy Released this statement:
Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression are rights that the people of the United States, Hungary, and all democracies hold dear. We all strive to resolve differences of opinion peacefully. We regret the violence that happened over the weekend in Budapest during the Gay Pride parade. The United States is not free of prejudice and violence toward minorities-as these are topics that are currently being debated vigorously in the U.S. We deplore violence as a means of expression wherever it occurs in the world.
|
| 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
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
