The Arcus Foundation Announces Support of Global LGBT Initiatives Announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

December 6, 2011

NEW YORK, NY (December 6, 2011) — The Arcus Foundation, a leading global foundation advancing pressing social justice and conservation issues, announced its support of global LGBT equality initiatives introduced today by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At a briefing held at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Clinton said that the Department of State will pursue a global human rights agenda inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI).  Clinton also announced that the Department will establish and administer a Global Equality Fund to protect and advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people globally.

“The historic steps announced by Secretary Clinton are great news for millions of people worldwide who face real threats ranging from employment discrimination to prosecution and even death under criminal laws that target them based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Dr. Yvette C. Burton, Arcus’ Chief Executive Officer. “These actions will strengthen the credibility of U.S. foreign policy and ongoing U.S. efforts to promote human rights throughout the world. We at Arcus, along with our grantees and partners around the world, see respect for all sexual orientations and gender identities as integral to all social justice work and human rights advocacy. We salute the administration’s leadership and look forward to the Department of State’s partnership as we continue to work in collaboration with social justice advocates in government, industry and communities around the globe to advance the universal interest we all share in creating a more just and humane world.”

About the Arcus Foundation

The Arcus Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation that supports organizations around the world working to advance equality across the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI) as well as conservation of the world’s great apes. The Foundation works globally and has offices in Kalamazoo, MI, New York City and Cambridge, UK.

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