Senators Murkowski, Shaheen Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Impose Sanctions on Perpetrators of Global Violence against LGBTQ+ Communities

WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in reintroducing theGlobal Respect Act.The legislation would impose sanctions on foreign actors responsible for human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQ+) individuals abroad. Additional cosponsors of the bill include Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
“Around the world, individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are in danger for simply existing,”said Senator Murkowski. “Hate and violence cannot and should not be tolerated. I’m hopeful that this legislation will establish actionable consequences for these inexcusable human rights violations, and create a safer world for all people— regardless of who they are or who they love.”
“I am re-introducing this legislation because the risk of personal harm for LGBTQI individuals for publicly identifying who they are or expressing who they love has tragically increased in recent years,”said Senator Shaheen.“Human rights, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human rights, recognizes that global freedom, justice and peace depend on ‘the inherent dignity’ and ‘the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.’  LBGTQI human rights are universal human rights. We must ensure that we hold all violators of those rights accountable.”
Specifically, the Global Respect Act would:
Ranking Member Shaheen first introduced theGlobal Respect Actin the 114th Congress. The legislation has been endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the Council for Global Equality, American Jewish World Service and Human Rights First.
Full text of the bill is availableHERE.