OutRight Action International#Outspoken Award

File:(1993) March on Washington for LGB Equal Rights and Liberation -- 39.jpg

Outright International, formerly known as International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC),{{cite news|last1=Lavers|first1=Michael K.|title=EXCLUSIVE: IGLHRC to change its name|url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/09/28/exclusive-iglhrc-to-change-its-name/|publisher=Washington Blade|date=28 September 2015}} was founded by Julie Dorf[http://gomag.com/article/100_women_we_love3/30/ Founder of IGLHRC] in 1990, and incorporated as a non-profit organization on November 7, 1990. Though initially focused on LGBT human rights abuses in Russia, the organization is now active in many parts of the world, including the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. OutRight International is headquartered in New York City with satellite offices on the West Coast and in Spain, and Manila. OutRight International has a digital archive of their LGBT human rights documentation and education materials for research.

On July 19, 2010, the United Nations Economic and Social Council voted to accredit IGLHRC as one of the NGOs granted consultative status with the international organization. This allows IGLHRC to attend U.N meetings, contribute statements, and collaborate with United Nations agencies.{{cite web |url-status=dead |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100719/un-un-gay-rights/ |first=Edih M. |last=Lederer |title=US gay rights group gets UN accreditation |date=July 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234545/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100719/un-un-gay-rights/ |archive-date=Feb 1, 2017 |website=HuffPost}}{{Cite web |title=U.S. Gay Rights Group Gets U.N. Accreditation |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-gay-rights-group-gets-un-accreditation/ |website=CBS News |date=July 19, 2010 |language=en-US}}

In 2010, IGLHRC contributed in forming "An Activist's Guide" of the Yogyakarta Principles.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ypinaction.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Activists_Guide_English_nov_14_2010.pdf |title=An Activist's Guide to The Yogyakarta Principles |access-date=2017-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104093608/http://www.ypinaction.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Activists_Guide_English_nov_14_2010.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-04 |url-status=dead |website=Yogyakartaprinciples.org }}

In 2015, on the 25th anniversary of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), the organization changed its name to Outright Action International to make it more inclusive.

In 2015, Outright's executive director Jessica Stern presented the first United Nations Security Council briefing on LGBTI human rights violations.{{Cite news |last=Bruni |first=Frank |date=2015-08-22 |title=Opinion {{!}} Gay and Marked for Death |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/23/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-gay-and-marked-for-death.html |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Lavers |first=Michael K. |date=August 24, 2015 |title=Islamic State focus of U.N. Security Council's first LGBT meeting |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/08/24/islamic-state-focus-of-u-n-security-councils-first-lgbt-meeting/ |website=Washington Blade}}

In 2015, OutRight in partnership with CUNY Law School[http://www1.cuny.edu/mu/law/2015/12/15/cuny-law-hosts-global-lgbtiq-rights-conference/ First Annual OutSummit Conference] started a one-day conference on Human Rights Day called OutSummit.[http://outsummit.org OutSummit One Day Conference]

In 2016, as a member of the United Nations LGBTI Core Group (LGBT rights at the United Nations), OutRight took part in a high level UN event that included the 8th Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 47th United States Vice President Joe Biden, President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet and Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg[https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/09/22/biden-anti-lgbt-discrimination-anathema-basic-values/ Biden made the comment during an event that the U.N. LGBT Core Group]

In 2017, OutRight challenged the inclusion of C-Fam to the US delegation at the UN CSW 2017.{{Cite web |last=Percelay |first=Rachel |date=2017-03-16 |title=Reuters Foundation Exposes An Anti-LGBTQ Hate Group Representing America At UN Women's Rights Event |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/reuters-foundation-exposes-anti-lgbtq-hate-group-representing-america-un-womens-rights |website=Media Matters for America |language=en}}[https://www.newsweek.com/trump-appoints-anti-trans-delegate-who-called-us-pro-life-nation-united-856329 Trump Sends Anti-trans Pro-lifer Bethany Kozma to Women's Rights Conference at the U.N.]

In 2018, Neish McLean, executive director of TransWave and OutRight Caribbean Program Officer, presented the intervention statement on behalf of the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders in response to Jamaica's Voluntary National Reviews at the United Nations.[https://www.un.int/jamaica/statements_speeches/presentation-jamaicas-voluntary-national-review-vnr-hlpf-sustainable-development Jamaica presents national statement on SDGs to UN this week][https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/hlpf-statement-response-jamaicas-voluntary-national-review-un Response to Jamaica's voluntary national review statement]

In 2019, OutRight worked with UN Women to be a part of a historic panel[http://webtv.un.org/watch/player/6059496917001 video of "Gender Diversity: Beyond Binaries"] at the United Nations on "Gender Diversity: Beyond Binaries"[http://webtv.un.org/watch/player/6059496917001 Beyond the binary. Seen. Included. Empowered.][https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/cultural-visibility-vs-political-rights/ Cultural Visibility vs Political Rights]

In 2022, OutRight dropped "Action" from its name, formally becoming OutRight International and clarified their mission to ensure human rights for LGBTIQ people everywhere through brand pillars: Amplify, Advocate, Support, and Celebrate.{{Cite web |title=Outright International Unveils New Branding {{!}} Outright International |url=https://outrightinternational.org/press-release/outright-international-unveils-new-branding |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=outrightinternational.org |date=4 October 2022 |language=en}}

OutRight's work is organized in four regional programs (Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean), and cross-regional programs focused on the United Nations, global research and safety and security for LGBTIQ activists.[https://www.radiofreeqtopia.com/episodes-old/tag/sri+lanka OutRight's executive director, Jessica Stern, on Radio Qtopia]

Work in the Asia region promotes acceptance of sexual and gender diversity at all levels of

society. The 2014 Report [https://outrightinternational.org/content/violence-through-lens-lbt-people-asia "Violence: Through The Lens of Lesbians, Bisexual Women And Trans People in Asia"][https://www.api-gbv.org/about-gbv/types-of-gbv/lgbtq-intimate-partner-violence/ LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence] collected and reviewed data from five countries in the region. Recent projects focused on domestic violence protections for LGBT in the Philippines{{cite web |url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/07/opinion/philippines-role-in-leaving-no-lgbtiq-person-behind/?_=1719700 |title=Philippines' role in leaving no LGBTIQ person behind |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619115028/https://asiatimes.com/2019/07/philippines-role-in-leaving-no-lgbtiq-person-behind/ |archive-date=Jun 19, 2021 |website=Asia Times |date=July 10, 2019 |first=Ging |last=Cristobal}} and Sri Lanka.[https://www.outrightinternational.org/asia/enhancing-domestic-violence-protections-lgbt-philippines-and-sri-lanka Enhancing Domestic Violence Protections for LGBT in Philippines and Sri Lanka]

Work in the Caribbean region supports organizations to achieve legal registration and provides support in establishing and building the capacity of newly founded organizations as well as combating gender-based violence.[https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2018/3/news-csw62-civil-society-calls-to-leave-no-woman-or-girl-in-rural-communities-behind Neish McLean Caribbean Program Office at UN]

OutRight International's Research Program collects quantitative and qualitative data through surveys and case studies to promote global LGBTIQ advocacy and address issues on religion, culture, policy, government, and social norms of gender sexuality, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This research is analyzed for use by local, regional, international and communications fronts.

• Outright conducted the first-ever global survey in 2019 [https://outrightinternational.org/content/outright-now-conversion-therapy "Harmful Treatment: The Global Reach of So-called Conversion Therapy"]{{Cite web |title=The Lies and Dangers of "Conversion Therapy" |url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy |website=Human Rights Campaign |language=en-US}} on the causes and effects of "conversion therapy" using interviews with experts and survivors around the world. The report dives into its main justifications by perpetrators, the most common conversion therapy practices used, and includes cases studies from people who have been through such programs. The survey provides insight on the social, cultural, and religious norms which undermine the identities and sexualities of LGBTIQ people.[https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/09/opinion/how-to-tackle-conversion-therapy-in-asia/?_=1688516 How to Tackle Conversion Therapy in Asia]
• A survey in 2018 [https://outrightinternational.org/righttoregister "The Global State of LGBTIQ Organizing: The Right to Register"][https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/08/09/countries-use-registration-laws-to-hinder-lgbti-advocacy/ "Countries use registration laws to hinder LGBTI advocacy"] in 194 countries and found that only 56%, 109 countries, permit LGBTIQ organizations to register as so. In just 28%, 55 countries, LGBTIQ organizations exist but they cannot legally register. OutRight is concerned that LGBTIQ people in these countries may be at higher risk of discrimination and violence, as well as lack resources and funding.
• Partnered with local LGBTIQ groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with a focus on Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, to support activists and allies. The 2018 report [https://www.outrightinternational.org/resilience "Activism and Resilience: LGBTQ Progress in the Middle East and North Africa"][https://www.advocate.com/world/2018/10/30/middle-eastern-lgbtq-activism-produces-progress-inspiration Middle Eastern LGBTQ Activism Produces Progress, Inspiration] explains how activism in the region leads to progress on LGBTQ issues, and how challenges are met with the resilience by the movement.

OutRight is the first and only U.S.-based LGBTIQ human rights organization to obtain

consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). OutRight

uses its status to work as an organizer[https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/un-new-yorker-7th-edition UN New Yorker 7th Edition] convening of groups and activists coming to New York to conduct advocacy on LGBTIQ issues at the United Nations. OutRight does direct advocacy work across the United Nations with a focus on the General Assembly, Commission on the Status of Women, and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Two OutRight events bridge UN direct advocacy work with global LGBTIQ activists and advocates: Advocacy Week[https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/global-lgbtiq-voices-36-countries-heard-united-nations Global LGBTIQ Voices From 36 Countries Heard at the United Nations] and the UN Religious Fellowship.{{cite web |url=https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/meet-outrights-2018-religion-fellows |title=Meet OutRight's 2018 Religion Fellows |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811023806/https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/meet-outrights-2018-religion-fellows |archive-date=Aug 11, 2022 |date=February 1, 2018 |website=Outright International}} OutRight engages relevant national, regional and international stakeholders, including UN member State missions, UN special mechanisms, UN agencies and the UN Secretariat to support LGBTIQ rights at UN headquarters, including the United Nations LGBTI Core Group.[http://unlgbticoregroup.org United Nations LGBTI Core Group]

Since 1994, OutRight confers an annual award, the Felipa de Souza Award, to honour a human rights activist or organization.[https://www.outrightinternational.org/events/awards-2017 The Felipa de Souza Award ~ OutRightInternational.org]

OutRight occasionally presents the Outspoken Award to special honorees. The Outspoken Award "recognizes the leadership of a global ally to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community whose outspokenness has contributed substantially to advancing the rights and understanding of LGBTI people everywhere."[http://lgbtweekly.com/2017/05/16/outright-honors-lgbtiq-human-rights-defenders-at-united-nations/ OutRight Honors LGBTIQ Human Rights Defenders ]

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