The meeting was held at Michael Margolies's apartment; 28 members attended.  John Wiecking reported that GLIFAA has roughly $5,000 in the accounts, and 44 paid-up members.  Thanks to Ambassador Huebner, Matthew Richardson, an experienced tax attorney with the Los Angeles branch of Shepperd, Mullin is our new pro bono lawyer to attempt to procure non-profit status.  Next, a representative of Human Rights First spoke.  The group does international work on human rights, including refugee protection; the speaker specializes in LGBT refugees.  There is concern lest homophobic legislation pending in Uganda and Kenya cause more citizens to flee.  Another issue is insensitivity at the UN High Commmission for Refugees to gender and gender identity issues.  HRF hopes the US Government will push for better treatment, as well as use its power to expedite cases so as to evade the UNHCR when necessary.  The organization is working with Michael Guest's Council on GLobal Equality.  Bob Gilchrist offered help talking with the Bureau of Population, Refugee, and Migration Affairs.  John Tollefson added that the Administration's attitude on human rights as applied to LGBT issues has undergone a sea-change, particularly in the Bureau of African Affairs where he works.  AF's front office has meetings pending with Ambassador Guest and IGLHRC.

   Ajit Joshi addressed the group on various policy issues. Personal Services Contractors (USPSCs), notably in USAID, are still lacking partnership rights. The Legal Affairs bureau, Under Secretary Kennedy, and USAID management are au courant.  On the matter of visas for partners of non-US employees, GLIFAA is tracking progress on the provision of J-1 visas. Embassies are issuing A and G visas, but in Washington DHS has been obstinate. An attendee employed by the World Bank reported that foreign partners of American citizen employees there are receiving G-4 visas. Bob added that the J-1 issue is still mired in bureaucracy, but there is progress.

   On the issue of updating non-discrimination statements to include gender identity, Ajit reported that memos are being drafted to State and USAID management. As to the cable requesting posts to approach host governments as appropriate on their plans to offer visas, only 37 responses have been received; a follow-up cable "instructing" posts to démarche host governments is being prepared (and went out subsequent to the meeting). Bob reported on a recent meeting with the HR recruitment office and the attempt to get a working group set up to keep track of LGBT issues on a continuing basis. There is some resistance to having GLIFAA attend the group's meetings, but this is being worked through. Kerri Hannan added that she and others have worked with the Director General to encourage State Department fellows at universities to pay attention to the desirability of recruiting LGBT students among other minority populations. Finally, Ajit reported that Anthony Cotton is still amassing data on insurance for partners offered by various health plans.

   Kerri Hannan reported on outreach issues. GLIFAA continues productive relationships with OCR on affinity groups and the Family Liaison Office on observance of Pride Month overseas. More participants are needed for A-100 orientations.  Michael Margolies is helping to organize a new course, to be given on an evening in June, on how the Foreign Service is applying new regulations on partnerships as well as incorporating material from last year's course on LGBT life abroad. Ajit Joshi discussed a meeting on mentoring.

   Michael Margolies gave an update on current legislative priorities. Little has changed since last month, all legislation of interest having stalled for various reasons. Mike requested those with links to Indiana and Tennessee to put pressure on Senators Lugar and Corker. He recently met with H to try to encourage a more visible presence by the Secretary on DPBO, ENDA, and UAFA. Although there was no definite answer, he planned to stay in touch. Ajit added that DADT is the Human Rights Campaign's top priority.

   Ajit Joshi reported that GLIFAA's new Web site is up as a test, and encouraged members to check it out at http://www.glifaatest.org/.

   Pride Month is coming up, as are elections to the GLIFAA Board. A committee co-chaired by Jon Tollefson and Chadwick Mills will handle the former; word will be forthcoming on the latter.