<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding: 3pt 0in 0in; border-top-color: rgb(225, 225, 225);" class=""><p class="MsoNormal"><b class="">From:</b> Equality.Caucus <<a href="mailto:Equality.Caucus@mail.house.gov" target="_blank" class="">Equality.Caucus@mail.house.gov</a>> <br class=""><b class="">Sent:</b> Friday, June 23, 2023 9:31 AM<br class=""><b class="">Subject:</b> RELEASE: Chair Pocan Leads Letter to Oppose Efforts to Further Criminalize the LGBTQI+ Community in Kenya<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></p><div align="center" class=""><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse;" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td width="615" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 461.55pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><img alt="A blue and white logo
Description automatically generated with low confidence" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="470F8A2A-91A7-4DE3-9E6F-B094D83558A1" src="cid:188e97a5f90ad7999131" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></p></td></tr><tr class=""><td width="341" valign="top" style="width: 256.1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">June 23, 2023<u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p></td><td width="274" valign="top" style="width: 205.45pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">CONTACT</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; background-color: white;"><a href="mailto:Jordan.Dashow@mail.house.gov" target="_blank" class=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Jordan Dashow</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: none; color: black;" class="">,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: none;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: none; color: black;" class="">202-880-4213</span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; background-color: white;"><a href="mailto:Malachi.White@mail.house.gov" target="_blank" class=""><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Malachi Rafiq White</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">, 202-215-4532</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align: right; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; background-color: white;"><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 64.35pt;" class=""><td width="615" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 461.55pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 64.35pt; background-color: rgb(133, 64, 144);" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><span style="font-size: 25pt; line-height: 34.999996185302734px; font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: white;" class="">Chair Pocan Leads Letter to Oppose Efforts to Further Criminalize the LGBTQI+ Community in Kenya</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 261pt;" class=""><td width="615" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 461.55pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 261pt;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;" class=""><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""></span></b></span><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></b></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;" class=""><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Futura PT Bold", sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class="">WASHINGTON, DC</span></span><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><b class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(0, 32, 96);" class=""> </span></b></span><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><b class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">–</span></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> <i class="">This week,</i> <i class="">Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, led a letter urging United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, to temporarily pause the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) negotiations until Kenyan President William Ruto commits to vetoing any legislation that further criminalizes the LGBTQI+ community.</i></span><i class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></i></div><p class="m_-3824946318806774515paragraph" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">In the letter, Members of Congress state:</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="m_-3824946318806774515paragraph" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">“The United Sates must use every tool in its disposal to ensure the human rights of LGBTQI+ people are protected. Against the backdrop of consideration of the so-called Family Protection Bill in Kenya, we urge you to pause the STIP negotiations and only resume them if President Ruto commits to vetoing any legislation that further criminalizes the LGBTQI+ community, including the hateful bill now being considered.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="m_-3824946318806774515paragraph" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">“The United States must make clear to both Kenya and other countries considering similar legislation that we will not stand idly by as they move to criminalize or further criminalize people for being LGBTQI+. If countries wish to strengthen their economic and trade ties to the United States, they must ensure they will protect the human rights of their residents—not further criminalize them for who they are.”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="m_-3824946318806774515paragraph" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">The letter was signed by the following members of Congress: <i class="">Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. Becca Balint, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Joaquin Castro, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Rep. James P. McGovern, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Katie Porter, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Brad Sherman, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Dina Titus, and Rep. Paul D. Tonko.</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><p class="m_-3824946318806774515paragraph" style="line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">Read the full text of the letter </span><a href="https://lgbtq.house.gov/sites/lgbtequalitycaucus.house.gov/files/US-Kenya%20STIP%20Letter%20-%20Final.pdf" target="_blank" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p><div style="margin: 0in; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;" class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; text-align: center; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class="">###</span></span><span class="m_-3824946318806774515eop"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" class=""> </span></span><span class="m_-3824946318806774515eop"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;" class=""><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></span></div></td></tr><tr style="height: 62.95pt;" class=""><td width="615" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 461.55pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 62.95pt;" class=""><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;" class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class=""><u class=""></u> <u class=""></u></span></i></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 12.600000381469727px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: white;" class=""><i class=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.599998474121094px; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class="">Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional Equality Caucus is to promote equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, including intersex traits. The Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQI+ people in the U.S. and around the world.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);" class=""></span></i><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 44.5pt;" class=""><td width="615" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width: 461.55pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; height: 44.5pt;" class=""><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center; line-height: 12.600000381469727px;"><a href="https://lgbtq.house.gov/equality-caucus-updates" target="_blank" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;" class=""><img border="0" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="B97D5EB4-AD75-4FC9-96A2-E7DE7A7DE5BF" src="cid:188e97a5f9011bfad142" class=""></span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CongressionalEqualityCaucus/" target="_blank" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;" class=""><img border="0" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="7515E351-2A25-4D70-B714-C4F5F6C96475" src="cid:188e97a5f907605c1153" class=""></span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/equalitycaucus" target="_blank" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;" class=""><img border="0" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="D8D9F78B-7B4F-49AF-BFF7-43813CFBA592" src="cid:188e97a5f90da4bd5164" class=""></span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"> </span><a href="https://instagram.com/equalitycaucus" target="_blank" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;" class=""><img border="0" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="DEFCE7AC-2D85-4140-AA7E-76F99D845C25" src="cid:188e97a5f903e91e9175" class=""></span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgCKcapsqOLp9tj_y0vgZzQ" target="_blank" class=""><span style="text-decoration: none; color: windowtext;" class=""><img border="0" style="max-width: 100%;" apple-inline="yes" id="D81A9E33-A8A7-472E-8943-3C6732C09533" src="cid:188e97a5f90a2d7fd186" class=""></span></a><span class="m_-3824946318806774515normaltextrun"><u class=""></u><u class=""></u></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class=""> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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