The Council will join the Center for American Progress (CAP) on Tuesday, December 15, in hosting the release of a monograph, drafted by Scott Evertz, entitled "Ideology over Facts:  How PEPFAR Has Failed to Meet its Potential."  This event will include an hour-long discussion by a panel of HIV/AIDS experts of where PEPFAR has fallen short, particularly in relation to LGBT communities.  Space is limited, so please rsvp here. 
 
Launched in 2003, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) represents a significant U.S. investment in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts abroad.  The effectiveness of that investment was undercut, however, by the Bush administration's insistence on using ideology, rather than science and data, to drive decision-making.  This approach failed lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and other communities that are particularly affected by HIV/AIDS.   The discussion will highlight a new report by Scott Evertz, who served as Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy during the Bush Administration.  In that capacity, he was deeply involved in the initialization of the PEPFAR program. 

Earlier this month, the Council for Global Equality worked with the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute to organize a panel presentation focusing on LGBT leadership for human rights abroad.  The panel was held at an annual conference for openly-LGBT elected and appointed officials in San Francisco.  Speakers included the openly gay Mayor of Berlin, a former official from the British Foreign Office, former U.S. Congressman Jim Kolbe and former U.S. Ambassador Michael Guest.  The Executive Director of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Cary Alan Johnson, also spoke, and the discussion was moderated by the Council's senior adviser, Julie Dorf.  The most memorable refrain came from former British official Phillipa Drew, who urged LGBT leaders in the United States to come out of their "national closet" and join other countries in supporting human rights for LGBT individuals in communities worldwide.  According to Drew, the world is eager to see more U.S. global leadership on these issues. 

Read news reports here.

Human Rights First is currently accepting nominations for the 2010 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award.  Those involved in human rights throughout the world are encouraged to nominate individuals or organizations who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to international human rights advocacy, including support for human rights within LGBT communities.  The award will be presented during a ceremony in New York City in the Spring of 2010 and the winner will receive a $25,000 prize. 

More information about the award can be found here.

The Council for Global Equality released a policy paper calling on the National Security Council, the State Department and Congress to include LGBT individuals, as well as other marginalized or targeted minority communities, as vital actors in sound development assistance priorities.  While leaders in Washington consider a range of reform proposals, the Council is working to ensure that our new commitments promote global equality for all.

Read our paper here.