Global Conference on LGBT Human Rights

The U.S. Department of State and USAID will host the third Conference to Advance the Human Rights of and Promote Inclusive Development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Persons on November 12-14, in Washington, D.C. Leading U.S. government officials will speak at the event, including Counselor to the Secretary of State, Tom Shannon, and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

The conference will bring together government officials, private funders, business leaders, scholars and activists from more than 30 countries to increase coordination, cooperation and resources dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of LGBT persons around the world, and to ensure full inclusion of LGBT persons in development assistance efforts.

The conference will broadly focus on diplomatic and foreign assistance strategies to address human rights violations and abuses that target LGBT persons, and to respond to social and economic exclusion of LGBT persons around the world. Included in specific issue-focused panels are discussions regarding: the specific needs of transgender persons; how to best engage faith communities to support the human rights of LGBT persons; and the best ways to integrate these priorities into development programs.