Membership
GLIFAA membership consists of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight employees of U.S. diplomatic agencies. Sign up now and pay your dues! Click here.
Sign up to receive the monthly GLIFAA newsletter and periodic emails with upcoming events and other important information.
GLIFAA Endorses the iAFSA Coalition for AFSA
GLIFAA is pleased to endorse the iAFSA Coalition in the upcoming election for AFSA's Governing Board. The coalition agreed to fully incorporate GLIFAA’s plank into its platform – calling for greater equality for LGBT employees and our families, an end to DOMA, support for the Respect for Marriage Act, the Uniting American Families Act, and the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act, and the elimination of the transgender exclusion in FEHB programs, among other things. To view the entire platform, including GLIFAA’s plank, and learn more about the iAFSA Coalition’s team (including three GLIFAA members!), please visit http://www.iafsacoalition.com. Voting begins April 15, and this year AFSA members can vote electronically. GLIFAA urges all members to vote for iAFSA's slate of candidates, especially for GLIFAA members Clayton Bond (State), Ken Kero-Mentz (State), and Barry Friedman (Retiree), as well as for Greg Hicks (State VP).
Celebrating GLIFAA's 20th Anniversary!
Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks at GLIFAA's 20th Anniversary Celebration in the Benjamin Franklin Dining Room of the Harry S. Truman Building! Remarks will be streamed on www.state.gov. See the Notice to the Press for more information.
The State Department has posted a notice about Pride Month on their public web site. This includes bios of a number of GLIFAA members. The White House has also published a number of LGBT Resources.
We've posted a new blog called Tales from the Closet, which includes stories from LGBT employees at foreign affairs agencies before 1992. Read the stories or submit your cown contribution in our Tales from the Closet section.
GLIFAA's board also regularly updates the GLIFAA Board Blog to bring you news and insight on events that relate to our community.
President Obama & Secretary Clinton Deliver Policy to Support LGBT Human Rights
On December 6, 2011, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum directing agencies operating abroad to defend the rights of LGBT persons when carrying out U.S. foreign policy. Simultaneously, Secretary Clinton delivered the first speech by a U.S. Cabinet Official abroad devoted solely to the human rights of LGBT persons. Read details here.
GLIFAA's newly-elected board has committed to updating the Board Blog at least once a week to bring you news and insight on events that relate to our community. Please RSVP. Check out the blog here.
Secretary Cinton has been a leader for LGBT equality within the State Department and USAID, as well as for protecting the human rights of LGBT people around the world. Her message in response to LGBT teen suicide is another sign of her commitment to LGBT equality worldwide.
View her video on YouTube.
Secretary Clinton speaks at GLIFAA's 2011 Pride reception.Secretary Clinton delivered a major speech on LGBT Human Rights and Foreign Policy during an event at the State Department celebrating LGBT Pride Month. The Secretary also announced that transgender employees will be included in the Department's EEO protections. Read the transcript or view the video of the speech. A video of the entire Pride event is available as well.
GLIFAA is your organization. Sign up now and pay your membership dues online to help the organization continue the tremendous strides of the last couple of years. You can now pay your dues online with PayPal or by check. For more information, click here.
GLIFAA is sponsoring a scholarship for students of foreign affairs interested in LGBT advocacy and working in a foreign affairs-related internship. The LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship Board will award one $2,500 scholarship to a disadvantaged student who plans to intern in a foreign affairs-related field. The LGBT Foreign Affairs Scholarship serves as need and merit-based financial aid for students pursuing degrees and/or careers in foreign affairs.
For more information and to donate, email lgbtscholarship@glifaa.org.
GLIFAA Post Representatives
GLIFAA's post representatives are doing great work overseas. Find the post representative in your country, or email glifaa@glifaa.org for more information.
Policy Statements
Read the latest policies issued by the Administration, the Department of State, and other foreign affairs agencies
Media Reports
Issues facing LGBT employees at foreign affairs agencies have generated a significant amount of press. Read some of that coverage here.
Resources
View the resources GLIFAA has assembled to help LGBT employees and their families.
Advocacy
Read the statements by GLIFAA and our allies as we have advocated for important policy changes that affect the lives of LGBT foreign affairs employees and their families.
