a nick i will keep mymy remarks brief to allow as much time as possible so everyone has enough time to engage in their questions. i want to examine it to see her appreciation to special envoy stern. i'm the proud sister of the transgender nonconforming -- on every fourth 2021 the biden administration announced they were advancing human rightsva fr lgbtq persons around the world building upon the historic 2011 a bomb administration memo

restricted departments and agencies to engage a broad ensure u.s. diplomacy promo to protect human rights forality b. tq persons everywhere. a little over one year later rescindedat make progress includingro a date to human rigs supporting into policy that denied americans to get children of same-sex cup of born abroad and c more. these have come in the moment history where we are seeing children and their families be targeted simply for being who they are notsh only abroad but also in many states across america. i want to briefly address this. the rights and safety of lgbtq individuals particularly trends individuals they are often targets of violence especially in the case of a war zone that

is towards the lgbtq plus committee and we are hearing how difficult it's been for trends individuals to leave ukraine for fear of safety so i call in united states to work with the crane to do everything we can to ensure this happenser now to we still have much further to go in protecting the rights of lgbtq persons. i look forward to discussing these issues. for shelter and representatives of celini the cochair of the lgbtqi+ caucus and the sponsor of the landmark equality act. and i do want to thank you and i want to knowledge camera makes

on this committee who's taking lgbtqi+ rights around the world. this has been a time of triumph and strife in the lgbtqi+ community here and abroad. i'm encouraged by progress by angola and botswana from 2019 to ngos which i'm proud to support. the same time we've seen too many countries moving in next month there'll be a referendum on a new law that would tan any discussion of lgbtq children in schools. the, united nations found that covid has led to an increase in

violence in lgbtqi+ couples and the community has had less access to health care during the pandemic. they've been used as scapegoats during the pandemic during the covid-19 crisis we have seen a surge of violence especially against the lgbtq community around the world including here in the united states. for all these reasons a special envoy to lgbtqi+ persons is a big job ahead and i am glad the president lied and has -- is the former executive director i have a relationship with the groups in many countries dribbling with lgbtqi+ violence and discrimination. she has extensive experience on

difficult and complex issues and extremely well-qualified for the work ahead with a deep commitment torn human rights and equality so i welcome special envoy lgbtq in the forward to protect the discussion. >> thank you mr. cicilline me. i will now turn to represented titus the sponsor of the globe act and a longtime chair beneath effort to secure the human rights of lgbtqi plus persons at home and abroad. >> thank you very much representative jacobson and thank you for holding this discussion that is so timely ans so critical and i thank mr. cicilline me for the work he has done in this area pushing for more legislation so it's not just the case of do as isaiah i say and not as i do. we are really doing it. special envoy lgbtq with a special honor to have you here and to see the accomplishments that you have made in the short time you have been part of the current administration in this

role so thank you very much. we know we have got to continue to discuss and develop policies to assess the global lgbtqi+ community around the world. these individual rights are being consistently denied simply because of who people are and whom they love. for human rights to be honored is not new. it's been a central element of u.s. policy for much of the last century. now it's time to extend those rights to cover the lgbtqi+ community. we have seen great strides under the obama administration which made the grammar can hold government approach to protecting theseon individuals. i commend special envoy jessica stern for taking on this role this critical time because we

know our duties under the previous administration so there's a lot of work to be done to undo what they did. unfortunately during times of instability as we saw this past summer in afghanistan and that we are seeing in ukraine with the lgbtqi+ community faces heightened risk even more so than other people who are refugees or in battlefield states. excuse me for the inner action. many of the actions taken by the biden demonstrations as part of the lgbtqi+ community -- i look forward to hearing what we are doing on this committee to

support your role ms. stern and putting for these provisions that the biden administration has stated moving forward. what can conquer pics with the globe act then celini's legislation. what can this committee do to legislatively help you in the past as you have a head we are seeing as i just got this note congress, the guatemalan congress voted to make same-sex marriage illegal. surely we have a role to play there as well as other countries where such actions are being taken and progress is not being made so i look forward to the discussion and i thank you very much. >> thank you mrs. titus. i will now turn to the special envoy for her opening remarks.

soon i thank you very much representative jacobson thank you all for inviting me to speak with you today. i'm really pleased to be here. i joined the state department five pounds ago and there has beenua much to do. i recently reviewed the lgbtq i plus human rights report and the drafting and cord nation a bolt will be the first-ever annual report on hold with government efforts to promote and protect lgbtqi+ persons across u.s. policy. no other country in the world is launched a similar public lgbtqi+ report so i'm happy to say we are breaking new ground. these reports inspire me because they document their progress is happening or consider serbia for example which in 2021 amended its antidiscrimination law to include protections on the aces

of characteristics or vietnam which is considering changing their gender identity law. local lgbtq i've plus persons in these countries still face many challenges these are important advances that can save lives. yet the truth is these reports meet with a profound sense of urgency. globaler data makes clear that e dehumanization of lgbtqi plus persons is systemic, for a set and violent. in senegal for instance in the days after a large anti-lgbtqi+ rally in may. at least for lgbtqi+ persons that we know of were assaulted. each attack was condoned and posted on line potentially outing the victims.

and in each incident the police arrested that the am. sadly senegal's problems in this area are not unique. state and nonstate jars target lgbtqi+ persons for violence and discrimination around the world. paints me to tell you that in recent years i have witnessed new forms of attack on lgbtqi+ persons. we see the increased criminalization of the exercise of freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and -- when lgbtqi+ persons dared to assert their human rights. the targeting and harassment of lgbtqi+ persons sometimes track closely with election cycles. underscoring the and premeditated these efforts can be. these attacks have proven themselves to be highly effective strategies not only to

undermine the basic dignity of lgbtqi+ persons but also to undermine the values of the role of law and inclusive democracy. the framework for the u.s. government efforts is the presidential memorandum on advancing the human rights of why sexual transgender persons around the world which president biden issued in 2021. let me explain the methodology that i i used to animate the memorandum. first quite simply the north star bar work is to counter discrimination and violence. emphasis on discrimination and violence facilitates ambitious long-term parties like the criminalization illegal gender recognition and new priorities as well like adding so-called convergent there a so-called corrective forced exams and

second my office regulate consults with locall and international lgbtqi+ human rights defenders and organizations. they know when and how to -- and theyay informed me of public u.. engagement could harm more than help critical information that is always needed. third we p provide technical expertise across the state department to sound the alarm and identifysc opportunities. fourth, we advocate for dated disaggregation because lgbtqi+ persons are not monolithic. they could face additional discrimination help care education and jobs becauseit of their lgbtqi+ status that this discrimination can occur based on factors related to age race ethnicity or agenda stability religion gender or immigration status. fifth, we invest not only in

countering hate but also nurturing opportunity. u.s. government can make a transformative difference by investing in places where the winds of change are in the right direction. as we party heard that's one of for instance decriminalized homosexuality this year and we must celebrate botswana and every countrye region and the world. the united states is not the only government working to defend human rights for lgbtqi+ persons globally thankfully. as the center human rights under foreign policy united states has the means to create an outsized global impact could the u.s. government has significant diplomatic infrastructure on the world did we manage the global equality fund which is the

premiere multilateral funding mechanism for lgbtq writes globally for this year passing $102 million in total grants awarded across 100 countries and public support for human rights had lgbtqi+ persons puts perpetrators on notice and rallies like-minded partners. so in conclusion we must seize the opportunity that we have today to more fully embody the american dream of an inclusive democracy. in doing so we can accelerate a basic changean for lgbtqi+ perss worldwide. we can take a transformative move or word for full equality for all persons in our lifetime regardless of who they are or who they love. thank you again for this opportunity and i look forward to our conversation. >> thank you special envoy stern today will now recognize numbers

for questioning. we have only 90 minutes for the special envoy so i ask everyone to allow time for thoughtful conversation and to allow as many to engage in the conversation. i will start by recognizing myself to as we mentioned earlier it's been a little over a year since president biden's february 2020 when memorandum on advancing the human rights of lgbtqi+ persons around the world so can you revive an overview of the actions taken by executive branch agencies to implement it direct a this? >> i would be happy to represented jacobs and thank you so much for that question. we emphasize there has been a lot of o success using the presidential memorandum is ram work and so many of the interventions executed under the memoranda have happened becausen each one helps advance the goal

of ending violence and discrimination. rather than vote for someone intervention i want to highlight several that stand out to me. for the heart of your question i would a director to the worth coming first-ever public report on the us government implementation of the memorandum. it details across all of our agencies a compendium of interventions and part of what's so exciting to me as we worked on a rep toward his every foreign assistance agency had something to rip ward and something of substance. i think that's going to be a tremendous tool for congress for civil society and the media to see the efforts the biden administrationn is making, to se the complexity of this work and also to hold us accountable to keep the pressure on as we drive this agenda forward or they also want to highlight the that the u.s. will soon make passports

available with the option of choosing at their gender which is an enormous achievement moving forward in a way that's going to change people's lives and i also want to emphasize the forthcoming human rights report will be the most inclusive adverbar how bushed. i think it's a very short way of trying to answer your question that there are so many examples that are remarkable and we are just getting started. >> thank you for all of your work on that. during an event at the center for democracytt last year the state department supported global lgbtqi+ empowerment fund which facilitates leadership of lgbtqi+ committee members and democratic institutions. when does the department anticipate the launch of the fund and how would this help to uphold the rights of lgbtqi+ members in the world?

>> that's a really important question. we expect to award the glide grant by the end of this fiscal year so by the end of the temper. i want to emphasize why it's so important. the glide fund seeks to support human rights initiatives that are challenging democratic institutions from a lgbtqi+ lens so that could take any forms. the fundamental purposes that lgbtqi+ persons are often the canary in the coal mine and when and where we see attacks on lgbtqi+ persons we see the erosion of the rule of law of the sea the worst that democratic institutions. so the kinds of projects that glides could support are not only good for lgbtqi+ persons in theirr personal safety they are good for all people because they can help build stronger democratic institutions to the kinds of projects we support would include for instance

responding to the increase hate speech targeting lgbtqi+ people during campaigns to integrate inclusive policies into their platforms ensuring voting rights for all persons regardless of assignment earth and even fundamental concepts like advocating for diversity and government. i'm really pleased that this mechanism exists and i can't wait for it to be here so you can see the effects of the working creating more lucid policies and programs for all. >> thank you and i too look forward toen seeing its rollout. what successes and challenges have you faced as a special envoy in terms of leading the implementation of the memorandum and your work in the department? >> i haven't figured out how to give up sleep or how to --

myself so that's been a big problem. i assume i hit the six-month market will have resolved that. i think the truth is one of the biggest challenges is my office is incredibly high demand. we are being contacted with requests for technical assistance from embassies aroune the world because many people within the state department have recognized that lgbtqi+ people are living with high rates of discrimination and violence and they want to do something about it. we just wish we had all the resources to respond to them and give them the technical assistance they are asking for. >> thank you. my time has expired. i will now turn it over to our moderator for member questions. >> thank you. represented celini. >> thank you very much and before it began i just want to say i'm really proud to belong to a caucus who is in general

support of lgbtqi+ equality and i want to knowledge sharing this committee, shaman jacobs for her long term support of the community and her heroic work and greatng legislation and thak you special envoy for being here but it's great to see last or organize an appropriations letter that washe signed by 123 members of the house who questioned $60 million annual funding for the presence vision and human rights agenda issued a year ago and while we were able to secure a historic increase of 56% in the omnibus we didn't get to the level of last year and i'm hopeful we will this year but how important is u.s. government funding to move lgbtqi+ equality included the deployed efficiently and

effectively to promote economic opportunities for targeted lgbtqi+ persons globally? >> thank you so much representatives to celini for that question. i might have to get a question about the resourcing of human rights movements worldwide. human rightsa movement in the world that has enough resources that without a doubt lgbtqi+ rights are one of the most underfundedho categoris of human rights. i would go so far as to say there's a dangerous funding gap for lgbtqi+ issues locally so i just want to rattle off a couple of examples. let's think about covid for a moment. out of 4500 reported covid-19 resource mechanisms only one pleasantly describes funding to support lgbtqi+ communities.

globally there's approximately $560 million a year in the own topic funding to support lgbtqi+ rights. that number could go up but it's not a bad place to start. approximately 300 million lgbtqi+ rights in the united states and by contrast just 260 million was given to all other countries in the world combined so let me put that in spending terms. for north african $7 million for all of asia and pacific were of course the region has the highest population the world just $31 million. i'm sharing these numbers to emphasize to your question representatives to celini that one of the most important things the u.s. can do to advance the security of lgbtqi+ rights of

ways to increase funding of this work. i also had data from dlr that's helpful to you. >> they are would bee helpful. >> we can i only fund 15% so clearly we could do more with more resources. >> we are going to fight to be sure that happens. the united states is an active participant in equal rights coalition unlike governments coordinating internationally to -- lgbtqi+ committees. united kingdom will host a high-level meeting of the erc to measure progress and recognize government commitments to promote lgbtqi+ equality globally. my first question is will you or dissipate with high-level representation and since i understand this is the funding

conference what new u.s. commitments is the administrationvi considering on the globalwe stage? >> thanks for your question on the human rights coalition. having been part of the erc from the start i know the mechanism well. we have not been formally a invited to the equal rights coalitionbu conference that i cn confirm we will have representation there. i will be at a small delegation of the conference and at first i can't confirm what others see senior u.s. representatives will attend. as for the role of pledging at the conference i might push back on your characterization of the conferenceun and say it certainy is a pledging conference from the host countries. it is not in as much of the pledging conference further participants. i can assure you we will use the conference as an opportunity to celebrate commitment and announce forthcoming opportunities.

thank you so much and i yield back madam chair. >> representative manning. >> thank you. thank you for being with us today special envoy stern. i'm sure you aware of some of the restrictions that lgbtqi+ face particularly a rise in hamas will my one of the key could talk about some of the ways we can leverage funds to support advancing lgbtq rights and freedoms in the middle east. >> thank you so much representative manning for that question. it's a pleasureed to be here wih you. actually i would answer that question the same way i would answer questions for any country contacts or any regional contact

which is is a layered approach. sometimes it's going to involve public diplomacy. most of the time our engagement will involve private diplomacy. i'm really happy that you took that question following the data that i shared because we are -- was $7 million going to support lgbtqtr rights in the region you can imagine how much more impact it would be if there was more significant resources for human rights activists. they would be more human rights documentation for they would be more training and service providers and more relationship building with government officials and i would emphasize afterpp my career of close to 25 years working with human rights act s to this not only in that region. in other regions one of the most effect of strategies we can support his intersectionality. i emphasizer- intersectionality because in places where

sovereignty or h morality laws e cross-dressing laws are on the books we might not succeed in the near term in seeing those laws and policies that we should be focused on how to drive down at the commute committee level and there a lot of opportunities to do that. the free press and the rule of law and other fundamentals of free and fair democracies. it's a question that i'm rather passionate about. i think the answer is the complex places it's never one-size-fits-all strategy. but can you be effective in changing cultural -- against lgbtqi+ people? >> one of the questions on my fast is our lgbtqi+ rights anti-culture or anti-tradition and the answer to that is of course no.

lgbtqi+ rights are part of every culture and every tradition on the planet. i don't think the u.s. government can ever -- excuse me outthink the u.s. government is going to be most effective driving culture change. i think culture change has to come from within and where we are going to be most helpful is by supporting lgbtqi+ people who were fighting to be seen and heard. they are fighting for recognition by mainstream organizations and they think where we can be helpful, takes many forms big and small. even inviting lgbtqi+ activists and civil society to ngo consultations. we have our embassies around the world. >> represented jacobs we are live again. i will ask represented castro to begin his questions. in the thank you jessica for your time today and your work on these very important issues.

underth current state department alosi described as quote neither for nor against u.s. embassies have been instructed to remain neutral on marriage equality campaigns in other countries even those engage in acts of public discourse. last to where sent a letter that called for the state policies to allow u.s. embassies to speak up in favor of same-sex marriage equality is a human right and that our country recognizes supports for this letter was signed by 60 members of congress in response to my letter was told the state department's conduct in your review of this policy. can you tell us where that review stands now and when will the policy review be completed and made public? in the thank you for your question representatives cast her and i appreciate the pink behind you. i don't know that's in honoror f today. on this question we are giving

it our oldest consideration as we conveyed to you in the letter without a doubt we are guided by policyas priorities and lgbtqi plus persons human rights defenders and organizations in individual countries. we support and have supported us up are. in consultation with local stakeholdersrs efforts to advane fundamental freedoms of opinion and expression peaceful assembly and association to allow for peaceful and safe discussions of same-sex marriage. beyond that i want to emphasize merit or not lgbtqi+ couples and their families are valid. we have sought opportunities to convey this again the or discrimination and stigma not only harm lgbtqi+ couples and their children. all of our society. my hope is to have additional information to share with you by

pride season this year. >> okay. thank you for that i understand icthe department's efforts follw the principle do not harm. overarchingg u.s. policy should not he watered down. instead advocacyua can take an approach based on expert understanding of the culture and political situation of the country's in which they are operating. really strong advocacy and countries where homosexuality is criminalized may be harmful to the movement of human rights for lgbtqi+ individuals in general. in countries where same-sex marriage is part of domestic discourse for example in chile where legislation recently passed both houses of congress and signed into law a diplomats can and should speak to how the u.s. has advanced this issue.

i wanted to address one more subject with you. lgbtqi+ department of state employees and their spouses continue to face challenges receiving accreditation to many countries around the world. duringfa a november hearing i asked deputy secretary for management of resources mckeon about state department actions to push these diplomats and their families and sending the letter to senator -- urging them to restore credit dictation for lgbtqi+ and their families at the highest levels and all department stated directions. can i speak your efforts to support an accreditation for lgbtqi+ diplomats and their families? >> i can say in it's an issue that i'm concerned with is someone who has a wife so i'm very sympathetic for all of my

colleagues and this is a significant priority for anyone who is a lgbtqi+ employee. the way i would answer answer this twofold. one i would say this is not squarely within myme court folio because i don't do human rights issues. se. vii'm concerned with the equitae nondiscriminatory treatment of lgbtqi+ people and the second thing i would share slightly morear and it total response whh is in virtually every meeting that i've had with the rights of both at the state department they have conveyed to me the importance of working on the issue of accreditation for same-sex families and it's really essential. i felt the commitments to be quite genuine and i observed many of for its. >> thank you for the end i yield

back. >> representative watson. >> thank you so much and thanks for joining us. i'm deeply concerned by what seems a global trend of rising discrimination against trends people. we have seen this in the united states proliferation of anti-trends legislation t i've heard from constituents in michigan about raising trends hate crimes against these people. could you please comment on how to legislation impacts your efforts to advance lgbtqi+ rightsat and what can the biden administration do to reverse these trends? >> two years in the pandemic it takes forever to find the unmute button. thank you so much for that question. i share your concern about the

violence that transgender people face on the row. countering transgender phobia is a priority in my office. on the macropoint that you make how to put human rights -- i'm going to probably misquote the president but the concept i've read is where always striving for more perfect union and that work is never done. but the u.s. says and does it at domestic level impacts our moral authority at the international level.+ that said even though we are still striving towards fuller

realization folder respect and protection for lgbtqi+ americans we still want to do what we can to advance lgbtqi+ rights in u.s. foreign policy. >> that leads to my next question so let me jump to it. some of the worlds worst offenders in terms of violating lgbtq rates are among the top recipients of u.s. security assistance so for example egypt's received security assistance. refused even to recognize the term sexual orientation and gender identity at all during the most recent universal periodic review at the u.n. human rights counsel effectively denying the existence of lgbtq people according to the human rights lobby deeply the u.s. security systems should get leverage to work with foreign

officials on lgbtq rates and can you think of an example where the u.s. is effectively used its leverage to. >> the u.s. security assistance gives us leverage, yes of course it does. every component of a bilateral relationship impacts our ability to negotiate with other governments or priorities where they are aligned or theyip diff. i think the challenge always is how do you take into account all of the different dimensions of a bilateral relationship whether it's free and fair elections, human rights, security assistance, climate change. there are so many issues. i have to say i would probably have to give back to you about an example. >> guys do that.

i will really appreciate that and let me ask one more question. it's about title 42 and i'm deeply concerned by the biden administration's decision to continue the previous administration's policy of using title 42 to justify turning away desperate asylum-seekers at our borders. know that lgbtqi+ migrants face disproportionate risk yet with turn rollerball people back and forced them to remain in mexico. one study by human rights first found 81% of lgbtq asylum seekers were the victim of an attack or an attempted attack including human trafficking kidnapping and violent assaults within just one month of -- that is w shocking if the title 42 policy remains in place.

how does the biden administration's policy reconcile with u.s. efforts to advance lgbtqi+ rights abroad? >> thank you for that question represented lebanon. i'm not well-versed on this issue so i'll have to take that back as well. >> i really appreciate you taking some homework. my time has expired so i really appreciate your answers and with that i yield back. >> representative titus. >> yes, thank you. i wanted to ask about access to account their services. according to usaid this is one of the biggest challenges they confront lgbtqi+ communities. and it gets worse in times of crisis likeli in a a new stand r ukraine people are discriminated against and they can't get access to information and they

are stopped and clinics. i wondered if you could talk about some of the issues that you have seen that this population faces in health care and that's not only physical care but also mental health care and what your office is doing to address these and how we might be helpful. >> representative tide is thank you for that question. i really appreciate it. we don't talk about it often enough and if we did we publish have better data to report than the incredibly high rates of homicides lgbtqi+ persons. we would have longer life expect to report that there's so many issues that come up around this. .. will not mark them?

i don't have a stand-alone strand but it just has to be integrated into everything i do. >> if there is anything we can do maybe we would be sympathetic to that. don't forget mental health as well as physical health. idea back. >> one word on that if i may, i'm so happy to emphasize mental health as well. the impact of covid-19 has been horrific on all persons everywhere but if you if you are an lgbtq i person impacted by job or housing class and you have to go back to live with your family whose homophobic or trans public, or mental health has been shattered by the pandemic in a way that

simultaneously like everyone else struggling but also distinct forms of harm. i read a story by an organization that documented the impact of covid-19 a on lgbtq ps persons in the story was about an undermanned force to move back in with his homophobic family as a result of job loss from covid-19 and he was in, experiencing so much harassment from his family he would call a mental health line. do you know what he had to do to collect? literally had to go to his bedroom closet to call for help. o his bedroom closet to call for help. literally and metaphorically people have had to go back into the closet so it's never been more important. >> you mentioned a high rate of homicide i would mention suicide is increasing

authority higher than average. >> one thing that would be helpful is if we had better data collection and more research into lgbtqi+ violence. unfortunately i cannot answer that question at the global level when we look at lgbtqi+ suicidal ideation and suicide rates with country level or community data and to your point the severity of the issue really calls for more data collection and investment into this community. >> we look at that as a possibility for supporting i appreciate you being here. >> representative jacobs those are all members for the first round. >> i will do another round. >> i did request.

>> i'm sorry we were told you did not be you are recognized. >> thank you. for your testimony today. three questions that are all part of the same coin and it was spoken about credentialing of the diplomats what is the statistical the data points of real-time how many diplomats do we have right now that are being denied credentials? and how many have spaces on —- spouses. and how country x identifies the orientation of the diplomat tuesday they are not going to credential.

and then going back to hear the state department and human resources and then to hire and retain in the state department. how does the state department know if somebody is lgbtqi+? because we cannot ask that when we hire anybody. i'm generally on —- genuinely curious to know. >> is also helpful to know so i can pace my questions over the sign that we have. i don't know if the number exist to your first question how many diplomats do we have being denied credentials? and i don't know because not

everyone chooses to disclose their sexual orientation or sexual characteristics and those that think disclosure will not lead to the results that they want, they may not choose to disclose. >> do we know that there is at least one right now? we have at least one individual from our state department one death diplomat that is denied credentials or do we not even know that much? >> bringing up accreditation come i have an adjacent relationship to the issues of human resources but it's not squarely one of the issues that i work on so that i would have to get back to you make a

mistake about data collection it is too serious of a question without being confident. i have seen considerable efforts to hire and retain lgbtqi+ employees. people can choose to disclose that we will not mandate. having a diverse diversity it brings more credibility. it makes the state department stronger. and to what about those resources that we use for hiring and return retaining lgbtqi+ employees are fair and equitable access to benefits including those families and trends related healthcare and it comes in not-so-subtle but

important statements made by state department leadership for example secretary of state sherman personally spoke at the state department pride event in june where we raise the progress flag and send a strong message when the leadership of the department allocates as a priority in their schedule. and then another strategy that comes in the relationship between ambassador amber crombie's efforts at the state department and then one thing that makes me happy is a know there is a focus on retaining to retain those employees but there still a lot of work ahead. >> thank you for your answers. >> you said you didn't have answers to the data points if this is something that the

diplomats are realistically facing and with that data point i would be curious to know how a foreign country receiving one of our diplomats decides that somebody whatever it is our why they are denying. thank you. >> now officially four round number two. want to return to the devastating crisis in ukraine that many trans- individuals are finding it difficult to leave for fear safety and harassment. that are very they cannot pass internal checkpoints makes it especially difficult that man ages 18 through 60 are obliged to see those who have identified on —- identification are fearful

they will have difficulty if they choose to leave that is concerning that trans- individuals are also targeted violence that is intolerant towards lgbtqi+ persons individuals. >> thank you so much for your question representative jacobs. my office has been seized was safety and security of trends ukrainians. and in addition away the vulnerability in general my offices have convened multiple consultations and roundtables with lgbtqi+ before the invasion began and civil society and ig oh one —- and non- one —- the ngo to work

with those before the war began. because it is appear not importance to get fast breaking information about how people are targeted what the problems are. without a doubt the fact that trends ukrainians have struggled to cross ukrainian borders have been top of mind and to see examples of where people have not been able to cross borders those who have needed assistance because they been afraid to leave their homes and they have stayed in precarious situations the same way showing embalming and because of their gender identity does not align with legal documents. and seeking opportunities to convey our concerns to the authorities when and where we can. and additionally our highlight

we are concerned about potential discrimination and harassment of lgbtqi+ ukrainians who leave ukraine and are traveling to countries in the region that also have their own serious issues of homophobia and trends phobia and of those of the shelters and other emergency and direct services and also seized with the issue to ensure that humanitarian support is delivered without discrimination. so the issues of ukraine are probably the top issue for my office right now and i share your concerns doing everything possible to engage and i'm happy to say that prm have also been constant partners in responding to these issues.

>> thank you for your work and let us know what more congress can do to help you with that. also to talk about the un lgbtqi+ i understand you are a cofounder of the group can you talked about the work you drive quick nation on these issues that the human? >> i'm happy to talk about the core group is an incredibly important mechanism for government to exchange ideas with one another about the ability of the un system to integrate full programming for lgbtqi was persons is always

to have a robust body of work it would be instrumental in the recent passage of the general assembly resolution of free and fair elections that made explicit reference to sexual ventilation and gender identity only the second evolution the history of you into make reference to sexual orientation and gender identity and on the corporate agenda for that visibility for those issues throughout the year and open mainstream issues into the un mandate. we are almost at a time when you ask that i know that it's hard to be something. >> i appreciate that. thank you about upholding the democratic values nobody should live in fear of death threats for who they love and how they are centered on her international efforts america must demonstrate leadership from what we preach abroad.

the proof that when chile believes that the action a look forward to working with a he spent his your unfiltered view of government funded by these television companies and more including comcast. >> you think it's just a community center? no, it way more than that. >> podcast partnering with 1000 community centers to great wi-fi enabled the students from low income families can get the tools they need to be ready for anything. comcast support c-span as a public service along with these other television providers giving a front row seat to democracy. ♪♪

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>> book tv every sunday on c-span2 preachers leaving office discussing the latest nonfiction books. 8:00 p.m. eastern, founder and executive director of the danish think tank and host of the podcast clear and present danger talking about his book, free speech, socrates to social media 10:00 p.m. eastern on "afterwards" former u.s. ambassador to ukraine, re- jovanovich and author of lessons from the edge, a member reflecting on her career, u.s. russia relations and her congressional testimony during the first impeachment hearings on former president donald trump interviewed by new yorker staff writer susan glasser, watch tv every sunday on c-span2 find a full schedule on your program guide or watch online anytime cap booktv.org. ♪♪