(Eungresa at the ?atten ?taiea 1301 20515 July 27, 2015 The Honorable John Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State 2201 Street, NW. Washington. DC. 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: As you know, the United States Supreme Court recently held that the Constitution protects the right of same sex couples to many. As the United States continues to make progress toward equality for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, many countries around the world have yet to address their own discriminatory practices. As such, we are writing to express our concems about recent reports that American LGBT Foreign Service Officers are sometimes denied an equal opportunity to represent the United States abroad because certain foreign governments refuse to recognize their same- sex marriages. As Members of Congress, we believe that when same-sex couples working for the State Department receive equal treatment at home and abroad, our diplomatic corps truly reflects the American ideals of openness, equality, and human rights. I In particular, we are deeply concerned about reports that LGBT FSOs are sometimes denied an equal opportunity to represent the United States abroad because certain foreign governments refuse to accredit same-sex spouses. We also understand that the State Department sometimes declines or discourages LGBT FSOs from assignments to certain overseas posts due to anticipated objections from the host nation, and that some State Department employees have apparently been denied assistance when they try to bring their same-sex spouses into countries that do not recognize their marriages. These decisions can hamper the professional growth of those F305, and threaten the Department?s ability to ensure that it can place the best, most quali?ed person in each position. We urge the State Department to prioritize this issue by advocating for all American Foreign Service spouses, regardless of sexual orientation. We cannot look the other way when an American diplomatic spouse any American diplomatic spouse is discriminated against in this way. If a foreign government refuses to issue the appropriate visa to same- sex spouses, we ask that the State Department reciprocate by denying a visa to the spouse of a diplomat from that country. PRINTED 0N RECYCLED PAPER In countries that maintain legalized forms of racism, sexism, or other types of bias, we believe the State Department should take a proactive role in demonstrating America?s deep commitment to equality, dignity, and diversity. The Supreme Court's decision in United States 1-. Windsor affirmed that commitment, stating that the federal government has a Constitutional obligation to treat all spouses equally regardless of sexual orientation. The June 26 decision in r. Hodges, further demonstrated the Court?s commitment to marriage equality. While we understand the challenge in dealing with foreign governments that discriminate, we call on the State Department to send a forceful message that all American families must be treated equally. Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, ELIOT L. ENGEL i Ranking Member House Commit - NITA M. LOWEY Ranking Member Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. . Sinerna Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. . John Lewis Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Eliot L. Engel Nita M. Lowey Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Steny H. Hoyer James E. Clybum Xavier Becerra Joseph Crowley Jared Polis David N. Cicilline Sean Patrick Maloney Mark Pocan Alan Lowenthal Scott H. Peters Al Green Charles B. Rangel Michael M. Honda Mark Takano Chris Van Hollen Ra?l M. Grijalva Derek Kilmer Theodore E. Deutch Barbara Lee Alan Grayson Joseph P. Kennedy James P. McGovern Donald S. Beyer Jr. Mike Quigley Joaquin Castro Chellie Pingree Lois Capps Eleanor Holmes Norton Jos? E. Serrano Gregory W. Meeks Gerald E. Connolly Albio Sires Brad Sherman Nydia M. Velazquez Jerrold Nadler Attachment: List of Signatories Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky Rep. Bobby L. Rush Rep. John P. Sarbanes Rep. Donna F. Edwards Rep. Adam B. Schiff Rep. Jim McDermott Rep. Adam Smith Rep. Lois Frankel Rep. Betty McCollum Rep. Sam Farr Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee Rep. Grace Meng Rep. Danny K. Davis Rep. Marcy Kaptur Rep. Peter A. DeFazio Rep. Elijah E. Cummings Rep. Henry C. ?Hank? Johnson, Jr. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II Rep. Peter J. Visclosky Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney Rep. Peter Welch Rep. Alcee L. Hastings Rep. Steve Israel Rep. Brian Higgins Rep. Paul D. Tonko Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo Rep. John Conyers, Jr. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro Rep. Steve Cohen Rep. Juan Vargas Rep. Katherine M. Clark Rep. Tony C?rdenas Rep. Ami Bera Rep. Ruben Gallego Rep. Brendan F. Boyle Rep. Frederica S. Wilson Rep. William R. Keating Rep. Mark DeSaulnier Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Rep. Mark Takai Ted W. Lieu Filemon Vela John A. Yarmuth Patrick Murphy Daniel T. Kjldee Eric Swalwell Timothy J. Walz Julia Brownley Debbie Wasserman Schultz Ed Perlmutter Earl Blumenauer Brenda L. Lawrence Sandy Levin Luis V. Gutierrez Tim Ryan Zoe Lofgren Robin L. Kelly Grace F. Napolitano Niki Tsongas Brad Ashford Debbie Dingell Bonnie Watson Coleman Anna G. Eshoo Frank Pallone, Jr. Marc A. Veasey Dina Titus Norma J. Torres Jackie Speier Terri A. Sewell Keith Ellison Louise M. Slaughter Lloyd Doggett Linda T. S?nchez Doris M. Matsui Rick Larsen Judy Chu Bill Foster Loretta Sanchez Ben Ray Luj?n Kathleen M. Rice Rep. Suzane K. DelBene Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Rep. Kathy Castor