Blinken Releases Statement on “International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement reaffirming the U.S. commitment to “LGBTQI+” individuals on the “International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia.” Blinken stated on X:

The U.S. Department of State press statement by Blinken notes President Biden wants the United States to work toward ending conversion therapy globally, stating, “last year, President Biden directed the U.S. government to promote an end to so-called ‘conversion therapy practices’ around the world. Conversion therapy is a scientifically discredited practice that can cause significant physical and psychiatric harm, and in certain circumstances may amount to torture.”

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) released a statement today calling for integration: “In honor of the international day, UNFPA is calling for the integration of LGBTQI+ rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights in global humanitarian and climate-resilience policies.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified homosexuality as a mental handicap between 1948 and 1990. The the International day commemorates the anniversary of the WHO declaring “homosexuality is not a disease, a disturbance or a perversion” on May 17, 1990.