A CONVERSATION WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY J. BLINKEN - The Atlantic Council hosted a special edition of Atlantic Council Front Page celebrating Pride Month, “Pressing for Equality: Engaging on LGBTQI Issues Around the World,” with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on June 21, 2021, in partnership with gliffa – LGBTQI+ Pride in Foreign Affairs Agencies, the State Department’s official LGBTQI+ Employee Affinity Group.

Throughout the COVID crisis, vulnerable communities around the world have been hit hard by the health and economic impacts, and democratic backsliding across the globe has placed marginalized demographics, such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) people in an even more precarious position. Both at home and abroad, the LGBTQI community continues to fight for equality, and as a new US presidential administration takes the reins, the State Department has the opportunity to use its global presence and platform to advocate for total social, economic, and political equality for sexual and gender minorities. Already, the State Department has encouraged US missions abroad to fly the Pride flag in solidarity with the global LGBTQI community, and in taking a more assertive approach to LGBTQI foreign policy, the US government has a window to effect meaningful change and move the needle on human rights around the world.

In honor of Pride Month, Secretary Blinken joined the Council and gliffa for a one-on-one conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Capehart to discuss the State Department’s LGBTQI foreign policy priorities, US efforts to advance LGBTQI equality around the world, and his goal to bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion for LGBTQI people in the US foreign service and diplomatic corps.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 06/21/2021