The U.S. Department of State and USAID will host the third Conference to Advance the Human Rights of and Promote Inclusive Development for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Persons on November 12-14, in Washington, D.C. Leading U.S. government officials will speak at the event, including Counselor to the Secretary of State, Tom Shannon, and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

The conference will bring together government officials, private funders, business leaders, scholars and activists from more than 30 countries to increase coordination, cooperation and resources dedicated to promoting and protecting the human rights of LGBT persons around the world, and to ensure full inclusion of LGBT persons in development assistance efforts.

The conference will broadly focus on diplomatic and foreign assistance strategies to address human rights violations and abuses that target LGBT persons, and to respond to social and economic exclusion of LGBT persons around the world. Included in specific issue-focused panels are discussions regarding: the specific needs of transgender persons; how to best engage faith communities to support the human rights of LGBT persons; and the best ways to integrate these priorities into development programs.

Please see the current schedule below for media opportunities. Conference events will take place in the George C. Marshall Conference Center Auditorium, unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Opening session with keynote remarks by Counselor to the Secretary of State Tom Shannon The remarks will be open to the press Preset for video cameras: 8:00 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby Final access time for journalists and still photographers 8:30 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Welcome reception with remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs David Pressman

Thursday, November 13, 2014

9:00 a.m – 9:45 a.m. Opening session with remarks by USAID Deputy Administrator Al Lenhardt and Erion Veliaj, Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Albania The remarks will be open to the press Preset for video cameras: 8:00 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby Final access time for journalists and still photographers 8:30 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Evening reception with remarks by Minister Josefina Martínez Gramuglia, Head of Political Affairs of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic; Kees Van Baar, Ambassador for Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands; and Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Stephen Pomper

If you are interested in more information about this event, please contact Melina Erkekdjian, First Secretary, Embassy of Argentina, at ekj@embassyofargentina.us

Friday, November 14, 2014

11:00 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. Closing remarks by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah Open Press Coverage Preset for video cameras 10:00 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby Final access time for journalists and still photographers 10:30 a.m. from the 21^st Street Lobby

Media representatives may attend this event upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

For further information or to RSVP, members of the press should send their name, media affiliation, and contact information to: Chanan Weissman at WeissmanC@State.gov or (202) 647-4043.