President Biden: Support Human Rights in Your Foreign Policy

Development that leaves LGBTQI+ people, women, ethnic minorities, Indigenous people and other marginalized groups behind is not progress. Please sign the letter below urging President Biden to center human rights, not just economic development and power, in his administration’s foreign policy and relations.

Dear President Biden,

Thank you for hosting Kenyan President Ruto this year, and for opening up a deeper partnership with his nation and the region. We agree with you that countries should not be forced to make a choice between debt and development. Kenya’s technological innovation can have positive impacts on the world, and we thank you for supporting this important sector.

We also believe that economic advances must not come at the expense of human rights. Development that leaves LGBTQI+ people, women, ethnic minorities, Indigenous people and other marginalized groups behind is not progress. If we support a country’s development yet their LGBTQI+ community faces harassment from police and stigma from health care professionals, that is not progress.

I urge you to account for human rights, not just economics and power, in your foreign policy decisions toward Kenya and beyond. B'tzelem Elohim is the central Jewish concept that every person is created in the divine image, and that we must value the humanity of each person. I believe this value is universal and should inspire our nation to center human rights in our foreign policy and relations.

Thank you for all that you do to build a more just and democratic world.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]