This bill creates a permanent position in the State Department called the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ People. The envoy would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate at the rank of Ambassador, making it an official, high-level diplomatic role focused on protecting LGBTQI+ people worldwide.

The bill responds to serious global problems: 64 countries criminalize same-sex relationships, 11 countries can impose the death penalty for consensual same-sex activity, and LGBTQI+ people face widespread violence, discrimination, and denial of basic freedoms in nearly every region. The bill documents specific abuses including forced anal exams (which the UN considers torture), denial of asylum, medical abuse of intersex people, and "conversion therapy" practices. It also notes that violence and discrimination drive LGBTQI+ people to flee their home countries and that criminalization prevents people from seeking healthcare, worsening HIV transmission rates.

The Special Envoy would coordinate U.S. foreign policy efforts to combat these abuses, direct funding and programs across State Department agencies, represent the U.S. in international discussions, and work with other countries and organizations to decriminalize homosexuality and protect LGBTQI+ rights. The bill requires the envoy to brief Congress annually and develop a global strategy every two years. It also directs the State Department to include information about LGBTQI+ persecution in its annual human rights reports and authorizes funding for programs that help LGBTQI+ people facing violence and discrimination internationally, including support for asylum seekers fleeing persecution.