S. 2180: Global Respect Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Global Respect Act of 2025, aims to impose sanctions against foreign individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals around the world. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Findings

The bill outlines several findings that establish the context and rationale for the proposed actions, including:

• The importance of dignity, freedom, and equality for all individuals.
• The rights to life, liberty, and security are fundamental human rights.
• Acknowledgment that many countries are improving protections for LGBTQI individuals, but also recognition of increasing violence and legal discrimination against them.
• Approximately one-third of countries have laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, with some imposing severe penalties, including the death penalty.
• A call for accountability against those who discriminate or commit violent acts against LGBTQI persons.

Identification of Violators

The bill mandates the President to create and update a list of foreign individuals or entities identified as responsible for severe human rights abuses against LGBTQI individuals. This includes acts such as:

• Torture or cruel treatment.
• Prolonged detention without trial.
• Disappearance through abduction or clandestine detention.
• Flagrant denials of basic rights.

This list must be submitted to Congress every 180 days and can be updated with new credible information.

Inadmissibility and Sanctions

Individuals listed under the bill will be:

• Ineligible for visas to enter the United States.
• Subject to removal from the U.S. if they are currently present.

The Secretary of State will be responsible for enforcing these provisions, including revocation of visas.

Reporting and Accountability

The bill requires the Secretary of State to report annually to Congress on actions taken regarding the implementation of this law. This includes details about individuals added to or removed from the sanction list.

Tracking Discrimination

The bill also calls for the designation of officials responsible for tracking violence and discrimination against LGBTQI individuals, ensuring that such issues are reported in annual assessments of human rights practices by the U.S.

Additional Sanctions

It expresses that Congress encourages the President to impose additional sanctions, using existing authorities, to hold accountable those who commit violent acts or gross human rights violations against LGBTQI individuals.

Waivers

The bill allows for waivers to be granted for specific individuals if deemed necessary for U.S. national interests or international obligations, provided Congress is notified in advance.

Definitions

The bill provides definitions for key terms, such as "foreign person" and identifies the relevant congressional committees involved in the implementation of the act.

Relevant Companies

None found.