Policy Statements

Policies and regulations regarding LGBT employees and their families have changed significantly in recent months and years. A selection of current Administration and Agency policies are outlined below.

The Department of State

  • Secretary Clinton released a Proclamation declaring June 2010 LGBT Pride Month.
  • 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.
  • USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah made a statement on LGBT Pride month.
  • Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams also made a Pride Declaration.
  • The Department of State released wide-ranging changes to Eligible Family Member status for same-sex domestic partners. The details can be found here.
  • Secretary Clinton addresses Human Rights issues, including LGBT Human Rights, in Remarks on the Human Rights Agenda for the 21st Century at Georgetown University. Read the speech.
  • Secretary Clinton released remarks in recognition of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month 2009.
  • The Department of State recently changed the policy to recognize name changes on all marriage certificates, including same-sex marriage certificates, for passport issuance. The detailed policy (at 7 FAM 1359 Appendix C) can be read here. (pdf)
  • Secretary Clinton's remarks upon receipt of the Roosevelt Institute's Four Freedoms Award at the Roosevelt Institute's Four Freedoms Medals Gala Dinner on September 11, 2009.

The Administration

  • President Obama reaffirmed regulatory changes to include employment benefits for the same-sex partners of LGBT Federal employees and released a presidential memorandum on June 2, 2010. Read the full text of the memorandum here. Also, read the President's June 2009 statement on domestic partner benefits for federal employees.
  • President Obama has released a Presidential Proclamation declaring June 2010 LGBT Pride Month. (pdf)
  • President Obama's remarks on signing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
  • The President's remarks at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner on October 10, 2009.
  • President Obama's proclamation of June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, calling on the people of the United States to turn back discrimination and prejudice everywhere it exists. Download (pdf)
  • The President's remarks at the Pride Month Reception are also available.
  • The administration now supports the UN Declaration Affirming the Human Rights of LGBT People. Read the State Department Statement. HRC Responds. Council for Global Equality Responds. (pdf)
  • The Obama-Biden Transition hosted a GLIFAA page on www.change.gov.

Government-Wide Policies

  • The Office of Personnel Management has a web site addressing the rights of federal civilian employees with regard to sexual orientation discrimination based on Executive Order 13087.
  • The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a web site containing facts about sexual orientation discrimination.
  • The Defense of Marriage Act restricts access to 1,138 federal legal provisions based on marital status. The GAO outlined these provisions in two reports from 1997 and 2004. Download the 1997 Report. Download the 2004 Report. (pdf)
  • The GAO produced a report in 2002 comparing the the proposed Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to the laws in the 12 states and the District of Columbia which had non-discrimination statutes that cover sexual orientation. Download. (pdf)