Articles
House Democrats urge State Dept. to reverse new diplomatic visa policy
Washington,
October 5, 2018
Tags:
Equality
Washington Blade |
More than 100 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to reverse a new policy that requires partners of foreign mission personnel and employees of international organizations to be married in order to qualify for a diplomatic visa. “This policy discriminates against gay and lesbian international civil servants, many of whom are citizens of countries that outlaw same-sex marriage,” reads a letter spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) that lawmakers sent to Pompeo. Congressional Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Anthony Brown (D-Md.), Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Don Beyer (D-Va.) are among the lawmakers who signed the letter. U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.) are also signatories. |