Markey, Garcia Reintroduce Bill to Combat Anti-LGBTQ+ Violence Worldwide

Senator Ed Markey and Rep. Robert Garcia have reintroduced legislation directing the State Department to monitor and respond to anti-LGBTQ+ violence globally, following the Supreme Court's rejection of a challenge to same-sex marriage.

The International Human Rights Defense Act would require the State Department to create a comprehensive plan to combat discrimination, criminalization, and hate-motivated attacks against LGBTQ+ communities worldwide, according to statements from both lawmakers' offices. The bill would also formally establish a Special Envoy to coordinate LGBTQ+ policies across the State Department, a position that has been vacant under the Trump administration.

"We must recommit the United States to the defense of human rights and the promotion of equality and justice around the world," Markey said in a statement. "It is as important as ever that we stand up and protect LGBTQ+ individuals from the Trump administration's cruel attempts to further marginalize this community. I will continue to fight alongside LGBTQ+ individuals for a world that recognizes that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights."

Garcia emphasized the urgency of the legislation in his statement: "The fact that same-sex marriage was challenged here in the United States shows that equality is never something we can take for granted. LGBTQ+ people here at home and around the world continue to face escalating violence, discrimination, and rollbacks of their rights, and we must act now. This bill will stand up for LGBTQ+ communities at home and abroad, and show the world that our nation can be a leader when it comes to protecting dignity and human rights once again."

This marks at least the fourth time the bill has been introduced. Markey and Rep. Sara Jacobs previously introduced the legislation in 2023, while Markey and former Rep. Alan Lowenthal sponsored it in 2019.

The reintroduction comes as the global LGBTQ+ rights movement has lost an estimated $50 million in funding since the Trump administration froze nearly all U.S. foreign aid, according to reports.