The Foreign Service Journal, September 2014

68 SEPTEMBER 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA NEWS AFSA’s Sharon Papp Wins Equality Award AFSA’s General Counsel Sharon Papp received the 2014 Equality Award at the Pride event held by Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies on June 19. GLIFAA’s annual celebra- tion of LGBT Pride month took place in the State Department’s Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Recep- tion Room. It featured a key- note address by Secretary of State John Kerry as well as remarks by noted LGBT activist, Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen. GLIFAA President Robyn McCutcheon opened the program by highlighting GLIFAA’s priority issues. As the first transgender Foreign Service officer to transi- tion on the job overseas, McCutcheon noted that she has witnessed the growing shift in acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgen- der issues in the Foreign Service. Sec. Kerry detailed the State Department’s commit- ment to LGBT inclusiveness, both at home and abroad. “The State Department has always been at the forefront of equality in the federal government,” he said. He commended McCutcheon for not only getting through a difficult period during her transition but for “turning it into a precedent-setting event, and as a result she made it a lot easier—or at least a little easier—for those who follow.” Sec. Kerry also thanked guest of honor Masha Ges- sen for her perseverance and advocacy. “When all the repressive anti-LGBT laws in Russia threatened literally to break apart her family, she put up a fight,” he said. He hailed the courageous work performed during times of discrimination by GLIFAA and other organizations and individuals—acknowledg- ing AFSA and spotlighting Sharon Papp. Following Kerry’s address, McCutcheon returned to the podium to present the 2014 Equality Award to Sharon Papp for her work to protect the rights of LGBT Foreign Service employees dating back to the early 1990s. The Equality Award has been given in past years—notably to Hillary Clinton in 2011—but only when an outstanding candidate is identified. Papp, who is AFSA’s gen- eral counsel, did not know she was getting the honor. “Receiving the award was a complete shock to me,” she said. “I am surprised and extremely honored to be presented with the Equality award.” Papp began working with GLIFAA in 1992 and was instrumental in ensuring that written confirmation of the prohibition against discrimi- nation based on sexual orien- tation, issued in 1994 by then Secretary of State Warren Christopher, was included in each chapter of the Foreign Affairs Manual that banned discrimination based on other protected classes (e.g., sex, race and religion). Papp also worked with State’s Office of Civil Rights to draft the Foreign Affairs Handbook provisions that permit LGBT employees to file informal complaints of discrimination (3 FAH-1 H-1520) and with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Personnel, Security, and Suitability on the written Personal Investigation Proce- dures that govern interviews with employees and sources about an employee’s sexual behavior. More recently, AFSA staff has been engaged on issues relating to the FAM provisions for Members of Household and Same Sex Domestic Partners. AFSA was also proud to lend its strong support to GLIFAA, which sought, successfully, to per- suade the American Foreign Service Protective Associa- tion to seek OPM approval for inclusion of transgender coverage in the Foreign Ser- vice Benefit Plan. During her 22 years at AFSA, Papp has worked on many cases dealing with LGBT issues but noted that she is not alone at AFSA in working on these issues. “I would like to recognize the others on the labor manage- ment staff who have worked on more recent GLIFAA issues,” she said. “Before coming to AFSA, I was a civil rights lawyer, so I don’t necessarily see this as courageous or brave,” Papp said. “When I see something wrong, it’s just in my nature to do whatever I can to fix it.” n — Adrian Rios, Labor Management Intern U.S.DEPARTMENTOFSTATE/MICHAELGROSS AFSA General Counsel Sharon Papp (right) accepts the 2014 Equality Award from GLIFAA President Robyn McCutcheon.