Non-Profit Soapbox

October 5, 2012      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Mark Bromley – Council Chair                                                                                                 

202-719-0511

The Council for Global Equality is proud to announce the selection of Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, as the 2012 recipient of its Global Equality Leadership Award. 

Throughout her tenure, Ambassador Rice has spoken eloquently to the principle that, like all minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide are entitled to the same protections, respect and rights accorded to others.  Under her leadership, the United States joined a declaration in the UN General Assembly condemning violence, harassment, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, led in restoring sexual orientation to a keystone UN human rights resolution against extrajudicial executions, and led efforts for the U.S. to seek election to the Human Rights Council, resulting in the first ever UN resolution solely focused on LGBT persons.  By directing the full force of U.S. diplomacy to the issue, Ambassador Rice has helped put LGBT rights on the UN agenda, with an unprecedented new appeal to all countries in all regions of the world.

Ambassador Rice’s leadership was also crucial to the success of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), a Council member, in securing consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. At the United Nations, unfriendly governments long have fought to exclude LGBT organizations and experts from participating in UN human rights meetings.  Indeed, that battle is now a proxy for the larger recognition of LGBT rights at the United Nations.  Without the leadership of Ambassador Rice, IGLHRC and other LGBT organizations might still be excluded from such important debates. 

Ambassador Rice has consistently grounded the U.S. Mission to UN’s representation on these matters in principles embodied in our country’s founding documents, as well as those contained in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Her leadership is in the best traditions of U.S. diplomacy.

The Global Equality Leadership Award will be presented to Ambassador Rice on October 10 in New York at a private reception.  Inquiries about the event may be directed via the contact information provided above.

Find out more about The Council for Global Equality here