HRC: Senate Must Ensure Tillerson is Committed to LGBTQ Equality Abroad

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights group, released the following statement after media reports that President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his Secretary of State.

"ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson's nomination raises critical questions as to how a Trump administration plans to protect LGBTQ employees and contractors affiliated with the State Department, and ultimately whether it will continue American efforts to advance equality through U.S. foreign policy,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Will Trump and Tillerson take on brutal dictators like Putin who have inspired attacks against LGBTQ people? Will they assist LGBTQ Muslim refugees fleeing death from ISIS? For millions of people around the globe, their position on these and other issues are a matter of life and death.  These are among the questions that Senators -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- must ask."

Background: It wasn’t until 2015, following President Obama’s July 2014 executive order requiring federal contractors to protect LGBTQ workers from discrimination that ExxonMobil added “sexual orientation and gender identity” to its non-discrimination policy for workers in the United States.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

###

Contact Us

To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.