Former U.S. Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons
Appointed by President Biden, Jessica Stern served as the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Persons. As Special Envoy, Stern lead U.S. foreign policy to protect LGBTQI+ persons from violence and discrimination globally. In this role, Stern engaged foreign governments, multilateral institutions, the private sector, NGOs, philanthropy and the media to advance equality internationally. She was one of just five Special Envoys for LGBTQI+ rights in the world.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Stern led Outright International as Executive Director for ten years. At Outright, Stern released human rights reports annually, trained human rights defenders and allies, built the world’s largest COVID LGBTQI+ grant-making program, and quintupled the budget. Before Outright, Stern served as a researcher or fellow at Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the Center for Constitutional Rights.
Stern has a long history of multilateral engagement. She was a founding member of the UN LGBTI Core Group and led its secretariat. Stern provided the first LGBTQI+ rights expert testimony in a UN Security Council Arria. Stern campaigned for Human Rights Council resolutions leading to the establishment and continuity of the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. She helped lead the LGBTI Core Group of the Organization of American States during the US tenure as chair.
Stern is frequently cited in the media. Her writing has been cited in the landmark cases of Karen Atala Riffo vs. Chile and Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. v. Union of India. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including from the Department of State, Department of Treasury, Metropolitan Community Church, Women’s e-News, and Crane’s New York Business. An adjunct associate professor, Stern teaches the first and only LGBTQI+ rights course at Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs.
