READ John Kerry's Formal Apology for State Dept’s Decades of Discrimination

Yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry released a formal apology for the decades of discrimination by the State Department against LGBTQ/I employees and job applicants.

Throughout my career, including as Secretary of State, I have stood strongly in support of the LGBTI community, recognizing that respect for human rights must include respect for all individuals. LGBTI employees serve as proud members of the State Department and valued colleagues dedicated to the service of our country. For the past several years, the Department has pressed for the families of LGBTI officers to have the same protections overseas as families of other officers. In 2015, to further promote LGBTI rights throughout the world, I appointed the first ever Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Persons.

In the past – as far back as the 1940s, but continuing for decades – the Department of State was among many public and private employers that discriminated against employees and job applicants on the basis of perceived sexual orientation, forcing some employees to resign or refusing to hire certain applicants in the first place. These actions were wrong then, just as they would be wrong today.

On behalf of the Department, I apologize to those who were impacted by the practices of the past and reaffirm the Department’s steadfast commitment to diversity and inclusion for all our employees, including members of the LGBTI community.

The U.S. will send a team to help find the 234 missing Nigerian girls

Some good news on the 234 missing Nigerian girls case.

Secretary of State John Kerry offered to send a team to Nigeria to help search for the girls, and Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan accepted.

Secretary Kerry will Send Scientists to challenge the Anti-Gay Law in Uganda

Secretary of State John Kerry will send scientists to Uganda to discuss the Anti-Gay law with President Yoweri Museveni.

This came about after Museveni's scientists claimed that no one's born gay. Because of that notion, the Anti-Gay law was signed. However, Secretary Kerry wants to challenge that idea:

"I talked personally to President Museveni just a few weeks ago, and he committed to meet with some of our experts so that we could engage him in a dialogue as to why what he did could not be based on any kind of science or fact, which is what he was alleging. He welcomed that and said that he was happy to receive them and we can engage in that kind of conversation… maybe we can reach a point of reconsideration."

Secretary Kerry's convo with Museveni is noted as the "tailored approach" to the State Department’s developing strategy on international anti-LGBT legislation.

Kerry said:

"There’s been already a review taking place to figure out what the options are as to how we can begin to change minds, move leaders, reach the public, the same kind of education that took place frankly here in our country."

I'm interested to see the outcome of this

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Secretary Kerry spoke with Ugandan President Museveni

Yesterday, Secretary Kerry talked to Uganda's President Museveni about their Anti-gay law.

Here's the press release:

Readout of Secretary Kerry’s Call with Ugandan President Museveni

Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Ugandan President Museveni yesterday via phone. Secretary Kerry expressed the United States’ deep disappointment in the Ugandan Government’s decision to enact the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The Secretary noted that the decision complicates the U.S. relationship with Uganda. He also raised U.S. concerns that this discriminatory law poses a threat to the safety and security of Uganda’s LGBT community, and urged President Museveni to ensure the safety and protection of all Ugandan citizens. The two also discussed the law’s negative impact on public health efforts including those to address HIV/AIDS, as well as on tourism and foreign investment in Uganda.

I love that pressure is coming from all over about this, but we need more. Something has to give.

Secretary Kerry statement on the Anti-LBGT Rhetoric in The Gambia

White House Press Release

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY KERRY


Anti-LBGT Rhetoric in The Gambia


The United States is deeply troubled by the hateful rhetoric used by President Jammeh in his National Day speech on February 18. All people are created equal and should be able to live free from discrimination, and that includes discrimination based on sexual identity and sexual orientation. We call on the Government of The Gambia to protect the human rights of all Gambians, and we encourage the international community to send a clear signal that statements of this nature have no place in the public dialogue and are unacceptable.

Human rights and fundamental freedoms belong to all individuals. The United States stands by you no matter where you are and no matter who you love.

Take that, Jack!

To see why SoS Kerry said this, go here

Obama Nominates John Kerry for Secretary Of State

President Obama nominated Sen. John Kerry for Secretary of State.

From CBS News:

"John's entire life has prepared him for this role," Mr. Obama said in announcing his decision in the Roosevelt Room at the White House Friday afternoon. He was joined by Vice President Joe Biden, Kerry, and Kerry's wife Teresa Heinz Kerry. 

Clinton, who is recovering from a concussion and suffering from a flu, was not present. Mr. Obama said she "very much wanted to be here today, but she continues to recuperate." 

Kerry is expected to be confirmed with relative ease in the Senate. The 69-year-old senator is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is widely respected in Democratic foreign policy circles. A Vietnam veteran who spoke out against the war upon his return, Kerry was hailed by the president for having "played a central role in every major foreign policy debate" for nearly three decades.

"He is not going to need a lot of on the job training," Mr. Obama said, pointing to Kerry's many connections to world leaders. He called the Massachusetts senator who tapped him to give the keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention a "great friend" and reference Kerry's role in playing Mitt Romney in presidential debate prep sessions earlier this year.

Still wished that Rice stayed in the game though.

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