WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Edward J. Markey issued the following press release:
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today reintroduced the International Human Rights Defense Act, legislation that would direct the State Department to monitor and respond to violence against LGBTQ+ people worldwide, while creating a comprehensive plan to combat discrimination, criminalization, and hate-motivated attacks against LGBTQ+ communities. The International Human Rights Defense Act would also formally establish a Special Envoy to coordinate LGBTQ+ policies across the State Department; a role that has been left vacant under the Trump administration. Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives on November 17,...