Is an hour. Hello, and welcome. I have the exact Vice President of the Atlantic Council. Thank you for joining us today. I am delighted that we are joined today by the deputy secretary of state to help markley state departments own celebrations. The Atlantic Council commemorates pride by featuring analysis and hosting national and Global Leaders that are advancing the rights and protections. Our own Staff Company lgbt advisory council, working with policy fellows, seeking to elevate and spotlight contributions that the Lgbti Community has on Foreign Policy and National Security. We recognize the importance of allies that affect all communities affected by injustices of societal norms. By president today anderson, who will closeout the event. Those of you who are joining from outside the u. S. Government, full disclosure, i served as a Vice President over 20 years ago. For those of you who are not familiar, by many accounts, one of the most engaged organizations in the federal government on these issues. Days, advocated to end restrictions on security clearance. Later, it successfully pushed to clarify policies for transgender employees. Important organization for development policy. At the Atlantic Council, hourly our mission is all about u. S. Leadership, working alongside allies to solve global challenges. By the u. S. D department u. S. Deputy secretary of state, steven bacon stephen biegun. Byor to being appointed secretary pompeo in 2019, he served as the u. S. Special representative for north korea. Prior to that, he was Vice President for intergovernmental relations for ford motor company. He has served as National Security advisor to senator bill frist. He served as Foreign Policy advisers for members of the senate and house including only Foreign Relations committee including on the Foreign Relations committee. Here to joinof you the conversation with atpride. If you are on the zuma platform, you can also submit questions a function. Ater, we will have discussion. Before all that, i will turn to you, mr. Deputy secretary. Greetings to all of you today. Let me start by thanking you for your warm introduction and many years of friendship. Thank you, jeff, for all of our colleagues here today. Years, it has been instrumental in advancing the for department of state employees. American values of equal treatment for every person with respect, decency, and equality under the law. I welcome the opportunity to join you all here today for an engaged discussion on advancing persons. R lgbti i served on the board of Freedom House years ago and it is my privilege to continue these efforts in the United States government, working to protect the rights at the heart of our american Foreign Policy. The United States probably advances our efforts around the globe to protect lgbti populations from violence, criminalization, discrimination, and stigma. Lgbti persons must be free to enjoy their full human rights and fundamental freedoms. In support of the Lgbti Community, President Trump has pledged to help and criminalization around the world. He has established a working group led by our Human Rights Bureau to formalize a decriminalization strategy for each country. Efforts to repeal Legal Provisions that criminalize lgbti status or conduct in the roughly 70 countries that currently maintain such laws. In march, we issued our annual human rights reports which spotlighted the stark reality that human rights abuses against lgbti persons remain commonplace in many countries around the world. But we are holding countries accountable. We are seeing some signs of progress, including in countries gabonotswana, angola, and. We understand that the pandemic on had an outsized impact marginal communities around the world and we are looking to make the lgbti responsive to the impact the pandemic is having on individuals in community. Capacity building, security training, and legal assistants through the Global Equality Fund. It is not just a broad where we focus on these issues. We need to lead by example here at home. At the state department, our Management Team led by the undersecretary for management are working hard to recruit, retain, andrew and promote the most diverse possible workforce went workforce and build inclusion. We work to make our workplace more inclusive for all of our employees. One area of focus is affording our lgbti personnel and their families full diplomatic privileges and immunity. Secondly, we are exploring policies that will better address the needs of our transgender colleagues. Our society has come a long way. Many of us, individually, have come a long way as well. There is so much work to be done. Jeff for thenk leadership they have shown. I want to thank the efforts of the Atlantic Council. I look forward to continuing our cooperation together to create a world where every person is treated equally with respect, dignity, and equality under the law. Thank you very much. Thank you. Really appreciate that. Thank you for that unambiguous message not only to your workforce but to a broader american and global audience. I work at the Atlantic Council, which is obviously in Foreign Policy. In the wake of all of the protests we have seen in our country, we have had our own conversations about the underpinnings of u. S. Foreign policy. You mentioned yourself that we have to lead here at home. How american democracy impacts americas role in the world, how do you think about the connection between domestic and foreign, how to the values and principles behind american democracy, the american way of life, how do they relate to american foreignpolicy . Mr. Biegun moments like this are incredibly challenging for democracies like our own. Many of our warts are on full display for the world to see. That is a function of our democracy. Our citizens have the ability to bring into clear focus the challenges that our society continues to grapple with. Opportunitys full to publicize them broadly. It feels, had a moment of challenge like this, almost like a vulnerability. Is that youlity ,ave to go for the full picture we go to repair, improve, move beyond, address those challenges. This is the great renewal of the american spirit that we have seen over and over again. At efforts are aimed perfecting ourselves. That is a judgment that we have to make in order to advance the strong and full picture. If the story just ended with horrible events like the killing of george floyd, if that was the end of the story, we would all be worse off for it. We will see a process play out where our people demand better. Those who are demanding equality of opportunity and treatment, they will Work Together in a democracy. I am confident that there is no greater statement in the value of our democracy. Worked in our society, as a leader in the world many times, to produce that same equality for lgbti citizens. This is the rights of the individual, what democracy provides. I think if we can complete the makes democracy stronger in the world. I really appreciate that answer. As on theng a few q zoom platform. We have a we have a comment from david kramer. David says, thanks for what you are doing. Question, into his area of expertise on russian Foreign Policy, where we have seen weaponization, a few will, of lgbt rights in russia, sometimes in eurasia, whether it is georgia, ukraine, countries moving towards the west, towards the european union. How do you think of a Foreign Policy issue when you see all of these foreignpolicy tools, weapons . Mr. Biegun what i will say, maybe to flippantly, we can thank flattering put in in one respect, because we can tell we are on the right side of history by the position he takes in juxtaposition to ours. Any of us who follow and work on russian issues daytoday know that this is just one element of an overall authoritarian and increasingly repressive society in russia, and one that we should push back on all fronts. Let me say thank you to my dear and thankid kramer, him for those kind words. David and i walked down this path. He has been a great role model for international affairs. His integrity got russia. And he has done so with leadership over many years. You talked a little bit about u. S. Foreign policy, how to equate some of our values to the commitments criminalization, stigma of lgbti communities. How do you work this into a foreignpolicy equation when there are a lot of things in play when you are dealing with countries . I think you mentioned several countries still have criminalization on the books. How do you put this forward in a portfolio when you have a lot of issues on the plate . Your foreignpolicy engagement in countries whose records lag behind. It is no different than so many other challenging issues we have. It is always a complex balancing act between our issues and our values. The goal is not to compromise either. Ini commented a moment ago, societies like russia, moving towards a more liberal governing structure is often times a core part of the solution to moving towards more equitable treatment. It is not divisible. The same fundamental demands that we have that the world has come actually, because these are ideals shrine in international agreements. Divisible from americas Foreign Policy. You know this from our Work Together over many years, sustaining the unity of the transatlantic alliance, that it is not simply about interests or values. It is about a marriage of the two. These issues fit into the broad suite of foreignpolicy and Human Rights Concerns that the United States has consistently sung to advocate over many decades. Im going to bring back a question. U. S. Representative on the Rainbow Railroad and a former board member. Tomorrow, theat, film welcome to chechnya from ersan hbo. Premieres on hbo. I will confess, i refugee the exact excuse me, asylum status that we have provided to anyone involved in the terrible actions we have seen in chechnya. Those of you who follow pressure closely know that our reach into candy or off into khadirovs realm has been limited. We have been vocal in our criticism and pushing back against. It is unacceptable and i am looking forward to seeing the movie, although i am sure it is going to be a very trying and painful movie. The mistreatment and the killing islgbti people in chechnya an evil that the world should not tolerate. The United States, as long as i am here, will behave vocal critic will be a vocal critic of actions like that. Let me close with a final question. You said the work you are doing to create a diverse state department. Where do you see the most important priorities there . I know, working on getting accreditation for folks overseas. I think you referred to working on policies that relate to transgender employees at the state department. What do you see as a priority for a Diverse Workforce in the department . We have to not only create equal treatment, but equality of opportunity. I was recently speaking with a Foreign Service officer who, with his husband, feels limited in the posts he can serve in worldwide. I was stunned that that was a consideration, but i know it is. Looking at comedy countries actually looking at how many countries actually maintain laws that criminalize or even worse punish very severely the lgbti life. I never even thought about it in terms of somebody making career searches. I am of the view that we should be quite insistent that countries protect our diplomats. Accreditation gives them certain rights in that respect, and also the immunities they bring with them. ,hat a minimum, less tolerant but we need to work at that. I was sobered by that example. It is one of many i had in recent weeks of really having an opportunity because of some of the challenges our society is facing today, to take pause and see things through the eyes of eone who does not have we are committed. The secretary sent out a war message today through his monthly send out a warm message today through his monthly mail about pride month. We will carry that mission forward, representing the mission of all Foreign Affairs community worldwide. With concerted effort, we can begin to change. Thank you so much. Thank you for kicking off this virtual pride celebration. Really appreciate your time. Thank you for being with us. Mr. Biegun thank you. My best to you and your family. Thank you so much. We are going to continue the conversation. I want to thank the secretary for his words. Thent to turn, to continue conversation, we will be joined by the Program Manager at dignity for all. The chair of the council for global equality. Thank you all for joining us. We want to hear reaction to this but also get your thoughts on how the United States can be engaging to support a Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy portfolio. I would like to turn to ambassador gilchrist if i could first. The current u. S. Ambassador to lithuania. And just ask how these issues have become part of your you reachutreach, how out to even hostile audiences, while being respectful to the culture, your hosts, and the environment you work in . I want to thank you for giving a shout out to that organization. Tremendousave a amount of respect and admiration and i think it is an organization that any people do not know much about. As an openly gay ambassador, i think what i have learned in my five months here so far is that i have to be who i am. I speak openly about my sexual orientation. I have spoken openly about my activism and what i have done. I have met with organizations. At the same time, i think i demonstrated firmly that my goal is to be a strong and effective ambassador advocating for American Interest but also working in a way for lithuania as well. For me, not to compromise on my am, and look at ways that i can perhaps be a role model for others. Those who may to have homophobic ideas that an American Ambassador can be quite gay,tive, can bk can be and can be a good guy. That is what i am planning to do for the rest of my tenure in lithuania. Thank you, bob. I think the program youre running, dignity for all, the support of the u. S. Government. A little worried about this program and how this factors in to u. S. Foreign policy. You, and it is great to be here on this panel. Dignity for all is a mechanism through the Global Equality Fund. Which the u. S. Government is also part of. It is a mechanism that provides assistance to lgbti rights defenders, organizations globally. As folks have mentioned earlier, there is a lot of violence, discrimination, that affects this community. Our mechanism supports those communities in three different ways. One of them is through the Emergency Funding, so we are able to quickly mobilize resources and support human rights, whether they need legal assistance, medical wellbeing, just kind of different ways. We are also able to move some rapid response. Opportunityefore an or threat that has emerged that we were not aware of. To secure retrainings because our communities are very vulnerable. It is important for them to have the resources they need. Especially right now with covid, there is a lot of vulnerability right now. Damon i am going to pick up with mark and bring all three of you into this conversation. Comedy mark, you have followed the policy issues over time more closely than anyone i know. Think should be or could be seen from the u. S. Government today in promoting equality . First of all, thanks for this conversation. Secretary mentioned President Trumps call for decriminalization at the u. N. General Assembly Last year. That really builds on a policy begun in 2011 under president obama when he issued a president ial memorandum calling for all Foreign Affairs agencies to leverage diplomacy and investments. Since 2011, the state department usaid, havessies, been investing in Civil Society with the Global Equality Fund through the programs mentioned. Ourave been working with International Law enforcement academies on hate crimes laws, rule of law issues. There has been some really spectacular diplomacy through our embassies on these issues. I would note in particular, the u. S. Ambassador who, in zambia in december, really went out very publicly to denounce the prosecution of two individuals, a samesex couple, sentenced to prison under the sodomy law, and was essentially kicked out of zambia for his outspoken concern. So, there have been some really important investments in diplomacy and funding around decriminalization and violence abatement. But i think we are concerned that increasingly, in this administration, we see the Administration Acting unilaterally. There was recently a statement from the core group of countries at the u. N. That addressed Human Rights Concerns in the context of covid, particularly for lgbti individuals. The u. S. Chose not to join that statement but to put out its own statement. The equal rights coalition, a coalition of 42 like i did governments, they also likeminded governments, they also recently put a statement of human rights for lgbti individuals in the context of covid, recognizing that lgbti communities are vulnerable to covid because of marginalization in many countries, including our own. But also because some countries are using this emergency to rollback rights. In hungary, the government has used this pandemic as an opportunity to take away transgender recognition from individuals. In uganda, we have seen them use the pandemic to round up lgbti youths to put them in prison. Where we this point are investing through the Global Equality Fund. Often weerned that too are going it alone, not joining our colleagues at the u. N. Covenant joining our colleagues at the equal rights coalition, to act together with our colleagues and likeminded countries on these issues. These issues, particularly the issue of decriminalization, is not an issue you can go out alone. We need to address it together with our allies. Damon we had a question that the submitted about decriminalization process. How is it set up in terms of the , asess, but specifically someone who is part of this conversation, have you had the opportunity . On know how the strategy decriminalization. We have been waiting, frankly, for almost a year for the strategy to come out of the Human Rights Bureau. The secretary recognized that every country is unique and every country requires its own decriminalization strategy. But still, we are looking for an overall framework in how you balance carrots and sticks, Civil Society, rule of law programming. Diplomacy inge our a smart way with likeminded embassies in any country. Those pillars have been there since 2011. They certainly can be refined and adjusted. But we are waiting for that overall framework from the Human Rights Bureau and would certainly offer our assistance and the assistance of many of the groups tuning into this discussion to help find the strategy. I appreciate that some of that has to be quiet diplomacy. Not every ambassador has to speak up as publicly as ambassador foote. But i think there does need to be a more formal opportunity for Civil Society input because at the end of the day, engagement across the spectrum needs to be guided by local actors who are invested and have most to gain and most at risk in these contexts. Mark made a reference, as well as the deputy secretary, to the impact of covid on lgbti communities. To be thinking about the particular impact of this pandemic . How is this a relevant factor in the strategy today . Became since covid something to be reckoned with, so many of our Consortium Partners dignity is made up of states, organizations, somebody partners, have been tracking the impact. It is really devastating. Some of the first news we started hearing were about food deprivation, which has continued to be the major issue in this pandemic because so many of the communities part of the lgbti communities are working in informal economies, gig economies. Their livelihood as completely gone. Communities already vulnerable have become increasingly vulnerable because of that. People have had to stay at homes where they are experiencing homophobia and transfer be a. Relocatehelp people from those locations. We have seen governments really weaponize covid and target lgbti communities. That impact longterm is really what we are now reckoning with, where is the Civil Society postcovid . What is going to happen when you dont have food, dont have basic needs being met right now. And a lot of organizations are focused on surviving. We have religious leaders that have come out and condemned communities and blamed covid on them we are seeing a rise of both states and cultural factors that have impacted the way that covid is potentially impacting these communities. At the end of the day, when we look at the landscape of 70 countries criminalizing lgbti communities, it is no surprise because our communities have already been criminalized and affected. Even accessing relief services. How,. N. Expert talks about if you cannot separate access to relief from the fact that people are being met allies. People are not accessing Services Provided by the government. That is not something that can really work. We are seeing communities being hit from all sides. Impact,term economic donor governments, funders, positioning away from funding lgbti communities because they are redirecting resources. Longterm, weof are reckoning with what that would look like. I am going to turn to ambassador gilchrist. I have got a couple of colleagues on the line who will have some questions as well. But others, who are still with us, keep submitting your questions on the zoom platform or twitter. Question r asks a state Department Officers do really need to remain closeted if they want to rise to the highest ranks in the service. Ambassador gilchrist . Amb. Gilchrist i think it has definitely changed. In the Foreign Service, i think we have advanced in many ways. We have not had a lesbian persondor yet or a lgbti of color as ambassador yet. But i think, within the institution, it is much less of an issue than it was when i began the Foreign Service years ago. A lot of the transformation has happened. I think that statement these days is no longer one that is valid like it used to be. Damon i appreciate the personal angle. Oversee of mission, you crew members come from across the federal government workforce, not just the state department. Different federal agencies present. Askingthe attendees is what kind of training there is in unconscious bias, awareness, other matters. Seeing these challenges whether it is legislation. But also discrimination on race, ethnicity, religion, other title vii bases. The structure for anybody representing the United States in a mission overseas, to go through respect and inclusion process training. Amb. Gilchrist there is definitely more to be done. The events of the last month speakinglots of within the state department and Foreign Service, lots of introspection. There is a really good Training Course that the deputy secretary actually recommended about a month ago to all staff on unconscious bias. Within my mission, i have asked that all staff actually take this. I think it is something we all need to be made more aware of, not just u. S. Government staff, but also our local hires who come with different attitudes as well. But i think it is a work in progress. As a leader, you have to model those values you think the rest of the mission should follow. I do think there is more the state department can do. A lot has come out over the past few weeks on that including various national publications. I thicket has led to a period of introspection. In terms of how we better incorporate and include all minorities. Damon thank you. A shout out for that unbiased that unconscious bias class as well. I believe she has joined us live from the inspector generals office. Can i turn to you . Yes. Thank you so much. Piggybacking kind of on that theme, within the Lgbtq Community, there are a lot of schools of thoughts on how to further our own rights. How do we acknowledge those opinions while also really addressing the internal racism and sexism still alive within the Lgbtq Community . Thank you. I will go first. That is a really good question, especially right now in this moment. For me, personally, as a queer woman of color, this is something i have reckoned with my entire life. Important to be history,cknowledge the acknowledge the disparity within the movement query part of and to really work with Bridge Builders that are part of communities that can bridge some of the ways that there might dissidents around a conversation. Needk to folks who say we inside and outside strategy. Figuring out where it is that we have the diversity and inclusion equity, and that is going to take a long time. Acknowledging the history, there is such a long history around racial injustice. Withhow do we move forward the strategy that is inclusive. Those would be my initial and i have been thinking about this a lot. Thank you. Thank you. The only thing i would add to that is, as she suggests, inclusion does not happen by itself. It requires thought and purpose. In the context, for example, of the equal rights coalition, there is only one country from froma, a number of leaders latin america. No countries from asia pacific. I know it is a goal of the cochairs of the erc, right now the United Kingdom and argentina, to really build that diversity. I think all of us need to support them in that. Of facesd a diversity in this space. We are trying to bring in more Civil Society organizations from around the world. So it is not just the well resourced lgbti organizations that have the luxury of supporting fulltime staff that can participate, but it includes groups from around the world who are operating on a shoestring, often with volunteers, but their voices are crucial because without them, this cannot be an equitable diversity. Department the state public affairs. All, happy friday, everyone weight everyone we forgot it is pride, right . Recently, there have been calls to withhold aid from countries that criminalize homosexuality. I wanted to ask about your take in regards to healthy u. S. Can engage such countries. Are you addressing anyone in particular . I since it is Foreign Policy, would go with mark and ambassador gilchrist please. I am happy to start. Happy pride. Thanks. In terms of aid conditionality, that is often discussed around decriminalization in particular. In general, we do not support the call for global aid conditionality because it is very unusual that local lgbti are calling for conditionality. Because the risk that they would be blamed or scapegoated for an increase in Maternal Mortality in a country because of what they are calling for, the risks are too great when playing with aid flows in some cases. But we very much support the idea that we need Smart Investments. Countries, in certain , particularly the 70 or so countries that criminalize samesex relationships, there are certain investments that will not make sense. There are certain investments that are not possible. There are certain investments that may need to be restructured so they dont go through the ministry of health. They go through the ngo sector. Weare careful about how invest in any given country to maximize the opportunity to reconsider those laws and decriminalize. It is very rare that you find vocal actors whose lives are on the line that are acting for conditionality. So we support Smart Investments but not conditionality as a general rule. Add that cutting off assistance also means cutting off support for those sectors. Those sectors that are actually advancing change. Combatinglves around gender violence, infant mortality. There are a large number of objectives of foreign assistance that in many ways support those sectors that are most critical for reform. I think you can look at it in blackandwhite terms. Lgbti issues are incorporated more fully in our theign policy and conversations we are having it programming, there is more we can do with that. But cutting off assistance often achieves the opposite result you want. Damon we will pick up a few more questions. Theresting question harmful narrative of western exports. How do Foreign Policy practitioners navigate this perception in conservative countries . Is there a situation where it may be appropriate . We talked a little bit about the principle of do no harm. How do you sort of balance these . The principle of do no harm is integral to the work that we do. I think a lot about pakistan, for example, which is the , and i wasm from also privileged to do some work there with lgbti communities. It is absolutely the country where principal of do no harm is so important. Lgbti issues are not monolithic. In a country like pakistan, there was a very progressive transgender law passed in 2018 because there was a lot of activism from communities that are sort of trans communities in pakistan. Precedenta historical and working with the council for islamic ideology to pass a very progressive law, which globally can be used as an example. Important to look thehat is especially precolonial history. Colonialism, that impacted countries that we work in, you have to have that careful balance. It would make sense to do more, if there is a western involvement, because that did come up during the passage of the law. Happens in the background. The support is sort of front and center. Important in many parts of the world. Damon bob, do you want to add to that . Amb. Gilchrist as diplomats, in ways have to be strategic what our interests are. They include advancing lgbti rights and equality, and combating antisodomy laws. I am a strong advocate for being strategic. At the same time, i think american diplomats can model by being openly gay and demonstrating you can be perfectly effective and good and be gay at the same time, and have an impact in that way. I know that there are circumstances where industries have to take a more nuanced groupsh to helping lgbti s. D other i tend to be on the side of being foreign leaning. Countries does not lead our diplomats and others to being unnecessarily closeted or reticent to push forward on a particular policy. A wrap up me ask question. I will start with mark. She says, what shift would you want to see in u. S. Policy going . Orward in terms of lgbt rights speaking about not what is possible today but what you would want to see if you could go big. Mark what a great wrap up question. I think the globally quality fund, it includes u. S. Government money but also other governments contribute. That has been an amazingly effective support mechanism for groups and issues around the world including the Emergency Fund that she administers. I think that fund could be tripled in size. This is an area where we have a lot of economic concerns. The amount of money that goes to the community is minuscule compared to the need and compared to our investments, even compared to other marginalized communities, if you look at the funding used to support persecuted religious groups around the world or persons with disabilities, other marginalized communities. Is penniesommunity on the dollar in terms of other investments and communities. Bold and say at least a tripling of investment. I also think what we really need to grapple with right now is how do we balance sincere religious freedom with lgbti equality . Manytunately, there are , we aretive countries trying to weaponize religious freedom to deny equality to lgbti communities. We are strong supporters of religious freedom as a fundamental human right, but the right to equality and dignity is equally valuable. This conversation is happening in a very difficult context in the u. S. Right now but also on the world stage. That conversation is interrelated. I really think our country, the u. S. , has to get to a better answer in terms of how we balance those competing interests. Then, we will have a better leg to stand on with more humility and balance as we support lgbti communities globally. Learning how to balance those will be important to add we have not come up with a good answer yet. Damon would you like to take a stab at that as well, if you would do a big advance, what chains would you want to see in u. S. Policy Going Forward . I would definitely echo marks comments about funding. Projectal filling three does a great overview, and it is very insignificant, the percentage that Lgbti Community are getting as part of the larger pond. Piece i am a big lever in south to south dialogue, providing this spaces in the global south to be able to learn from each other. That has already been happening but being able to make those investments in our communities. Indership in the lgbti countries because a lot of times what happens is that there are only a few people that end up getting recognized, that end up getting the travel opportunities, the funding a lot of times it tends to be sis cisgender gay men and a lot of the Community Gets left out. The gilchrist i agree with two other panelists. Resources. I have seen how transformative our programming can be with or humano lgbti rights rights in general. I dont know that the American Public fully appreciates how much we have been able to help organizations or groups. In the end, societies that respect lgbti rights and human rights in general are generally more stable societies. I will agree with the two others and say, really, resources. Thank you for joining us here today. That was a great conversation. We have learned a lot. Other quite a few questions. I will mention one. Has the state department reckoned with the lavender scare . Welcomesure people are and safe in the Foreign Service . I am sure the legacy and the scars remain in the institution. What i could tell in the state department a couple decades ago, everyone who preceded me felt really at risk. The potential for competition. Everyone that was coming in after me was coming in to a different mindset and a different world in the state department. For me personally, it was the first time we are on day one, i was asked thanks in large part to a member who came up to me right away and called me out. They gave me a place to get involved in the state department, so there may be issues the state department has to overcome, the lavender scare, but i know there is a fundamental role to address that. I am delighted we could partner up with you today on this event so we could welcome the secretary together for your members as well as a broader public audience. I want to invite everyone who has joined us today to join us tomorrow for a continuation of eastern time. New we will be featuring the leaders of the world. Serbia, and up until deputy ofnd, the ireland to wrap up five months, which would be a fantastic conversation. With that, let me hand over to jeff to close out our program today. I want to give a big thanks to you and the Atlantic Council for hosting this event and the thety secretary, for conversation. I want to thank the audience. I noticed a lot of members included in the audience. We now have a network of roughly 1000 people. There is a Common Thread which brings this altogether. Is, and the most important that we are all serving with pride, which is our theme. The various professionals and diplomats and lgbt plus diplomats and Foreign Affairs professionals. You heard about some of our priorities this year,cclimation, accreditation and helping our trans colleagues serve with dignity and pride. We are also working with other groups in the state department to make the state department more diverse and more inclusive. Serving with pride, we are serving with pride around the world. We have representatives in 50 Different Countries and they are working with a lot of local organizations, and often times, we are working closely with people within the embassy in washington to support projects for the Global Economy fund. They are working with front over a to help pride couple dozen embassies. I was looking through different pictures this morning. Thank you for this important conversation. This is conversations are never an end. They are a beginning or continuation so i really appreciate this time and i look forward to more cooperation, so thanks again to everyone who participated. Our lives a look at coverage thursday at 10 00 a. M. Eastern on cspan, the cdc , and the National Institutes of Health Director dr. Francis collins, testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee about the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Later in the day, more on the Coronavirus Response with general joseph, whose chief of the National Guard bureau. Cspan2, the senate is back at 10 00 a. M. Eastern to continue work on a Defense Program and policy bill for fiscal year 2021. Senators will also vote to advance the nomination of to be white house budget director, and on cspan3, the house select subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis holds a hearing on efforts to obtain personal protective equipment and other supplies in response to the pandemic. That gets underway at 9 00 a. M. Eastern. The president s, from public affairs, available now in paperback and ebook. Presents biographies of every president organized by their ranking, by noted historian, from best to worst. And futures perspectives into the lives of our nations chief executives and leadership styles. Visit our website, cspan. Org the president. Order your copy today. Wherever books and ebooks are sold. Vice president