The Biden administration's efforts to promote gay and transgender issues in American foreign policy have been revealed through internal emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. The emails show that Jessica Stern, the special envoy for LGBTQI+ Persons, has been working to integrate LGBTQI+ rights into every aspect of American diplomacy. Stern, a gender activist with no prior government experience, was appointed to the role in June 2021 and has been instrumental in pushing the administration's gender agenda globally.
Stern's efforts have included promoting the use of a third gender marker on passports, which allows individuals to identify as intersex, non-binary, or gender non-conforming. She has also urged other countries, including Taiwan and Germany, to adopt similar policies. In a 2022 speech, Stern told Taiwanese officials that 'trans women are women, trans men are men' and encouraged them to permit a third gender marker on legal identity documents.
The emails also reveal that Stern's office has been working to evade public scrutiny for her work from 'anti-gender movements,' a term used to describe those who oppose governmental support for transgender ideology and transgender movement priorities. Stern's office has sought to keep her remarks and activities confidential, including a private workshop at Columbia University's School of International & Public Affairs.
Stern's taxpayer-funded travel has taken her to remote nations for pride celebrations and other receptions. In June 2024, she recalled a 'wonderful' Nordic reception in honor of LGBTQI+ rights, where she and Icelandic diplomat Ragnhildur Erna Arnórsdóttir wore crowns and took a photo together. Stern has also attended a lunch with American diplomats at the U.S. embassy serving the Vatican, whose policies are at odds with those of the Biden administration on issues of gender and sexuality.
James Fitzpatrick, the director of the Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), criticized Stern's efforts, saying that Germany and other countries do not need American help in promoting gay and trans issues. Fitzpatrick argued that the Biden administration's focus on LGBTQI+ issues has been 'paramount' and has led to attempts at global diplomacy that have 'fractured longstanding relationships around the world.'
The State Department has also faced criticism for its handling of gender pronouns internally. In May 2023, the department's internal email system temporarily assigned random and often incorrect gender pronouns to employees, resulting in a 'pronoun glitch.' The department subsequently offered counseling to any employee who felt 'hurt or upset' by the mix-up.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott defended the Trump administration's approach to diplomacy, saying that it is focused on advancing the national interests of the American people. Pigott argued that the standard given by Secretary Rubio is clear: 'does it make America safer, stronger, or more prosperous?' The Trump State Department has barred passport applicants from choosing a gender other than male or female, a restriction that is being challenged in court by the ACLU.
Stern, who is now affiliated with prestigious programs at Harvard and Columbia, did not immediately respond to a request for comments. The controversy surrounding her efforts has sparked a debate about the role of the special envoy for LGBTQI+ Persons and the Biden administration's approach to promoting gay and transgender issues in American foreign policy.
The special envoy for LGBTQI+ Persons is a position that was created during the Obama administration, with the goal of promoting LGBTQI+ rights globally. The position is part of the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and is responsible for coordinating the department's efforts to promote LGBTQI+ rights and combat discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals around the world.
The Biden administration's focus on LGBTQI+ issues has been a key part of its foreign policy agenda, with the administration arguing that promoting LGBTQI+ rights is essential to advancing human rights and democracy globally. However, the administration's efforts have been met with resistance from some countries, particularly those with conservative or traditional views on gender and sexuality.
The controversy surrounding Stern's efforts has also sparked a debate about the role of the United States in promoting LGBTQI+ rights globally. Some argue that the United States has a responsibility to promote human rights and democracy around the world, and that promoting LGBTQI+ rights is an essential part of this effort. Others argue that the United States should not be imposing its values on other countries, and that promoting LGBTQI+ rights is a form of cultural imperialism.
For American readers, the controversy surrounding Stern's efforts has significant implications for the country's foreign policy and its relationships with other countries. The Biden administration's focus on LGBTQI+ issues has the potential to fracture relationships with countries that have conservative or traditional views on gender and sexuality, and could also lead to a backlash against the administration's efforts to promote human rights and democracy globally.
For Canadian readers, the controversy surrounding Stern's efforts is also relevant, as Canada has been a leader in promoting LGBTQI+ rights globally. The Canadian government has been a strong supporter of LGBTQI+ rights, and has worked to promote these rights through its foreign policy and development assistance programs. The controversy surrounding Stern's efforts has the potential to impact Canada's relationships with other countries, particularly those with conservative or traditional views on gender and sexuality.