H.R. 6151: Global Respect Act
Sponsor
Sarah McBride
Democrat · DE
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Nov 19, 2025
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Bar foreign LGBTQI abusers from the United States
Why it matters
H.R. 6151 would force the president to publish a list of foreign officials credibly tied to torturing, jailing, or disappearing LGBTQI people — and revoke their U.S. visas. The bill's findings cite that roughly one-third of countries criminalize consensual same-sex relations and 12 carry the possibility of the death penalty.
The Global Respect Act would force the president to publish a list of foreign officials credibly tied to serious abuses against LGBTQI people — torture, prolonged detention without charges, forced disappearances, and other flagrant denials of life, liberty, or security. The first list lands in Congress within 180 days of enactment, gets updated every six months, and gets published in the Federal Register where anyone can read it.
The penalty is concrete. People on the list can't enter the United States. Their existing U.S. visas get revoked immediately, automatically canceling any other valid entry documents they hold. The ban also reaches anyone acting as an agent for the abuser — not just the person who personally pulled the trigger.
Members of Congress get a direct lever. The chair or ranking member of the Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Armed Services, or Homeland Security committees can ask the president to evaluate a specific foreign official, and the president has 120 days to respond in writing. Outside groups — human rights NGOs, advocates, individuals — get a public process to submit names and evidence to the State Department.
There are escape valves. The president can put names in a classified annex if making them public would harm national security, but must justify each one to Congress. People come off the list if new evidence clears them, if they've been prosecuted appropriately at home, or if they credibly change behavior. Immediate family members of sanctioned officials can still enter the U.S. if they themselves have a reasonable fear of persecution. And the bill explicitly states it cannot be used to sanction anyone solely for religious belief.
This version of the Global Respect Act is sponsored by Rep. Sarah McBride — the first openly transgender member of Congress — and picked up 141 House cosponsors at introduction, including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) as the only Republican. Earlier versions of this bill have been introduced in past Congresses without becoming law.
H.R. 6151 Bill Summary
What H.R. 6151 actually does.
Visa bans for foreign abusers
Listed foreign officials become inadmissible to the United States, ineligible for any U.S. visa, and lose any other immigration benefit. Existing visas get revoked immediately.
Public list, updated every six months
The president must transmit the first list to Congress within 180 days of enactment and update it biannually, with names published in the Federal Register.
Sanctions trigger on torture, detention, and disappearances
Covered abuses include torture, cruel or degrading treatment, prolonged detention without charges, forced disappearances, and other flagrant denials of life, liberty, or security tied to LGBTQI status.
Agents and accomplices also covered
Sanctions reach people who act as agents for abusers — not just those who personally carry out the abuse.
Public process for outside evidence
NGOs, advocates, and individuals can submit names and evidence to the State Department through a published public process.
Congressional oversight lever
Chairs and ranking members of key committees can demand a 120-day review of any foreign person, with a written response from the president.
Family-member exception
Immediate family members of sanctioned officials can still enter the U.S. if the president certifies they themselves have a reasonable fear of persecution.
Who benefits from H.R. 6151?
LGBTQI people in countries that criminalize them
The bill's findings cite roughly one-third of countries with laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relations and 12 that carry the possibility of the death penalty. This bill aims at the foreign officials who enforce those laws.
Human rights NGOs and advocates
Groups documenting abuses get a formal channel to submit names and evidence directly to the State Department for review.
Members of Congress conducting oversight
Committee chairs and ranking members gain a direct mechanism to force administration action — written request in, written response within 120 days.
Immediate family members fleeing persecution
Family members of sanctioned officials remain eligible to enter the U.S. if they themselves face credible fear of persecution based on their identity, beliefs, or social group.
Who is affected by H.R. 6151?
Foreign officials linked to anti-LGBTQI abuses
Those credibly tied to torture, prolonged detention without charges, or forced disappearances of LGBTQI people would be inadmissible to the U.S. and have any existing visas revoked.
Foreign police, prison, and security personnel
The bill's findings state that police, prison, military, and civilian government authorities have been 'directly complicit' in arbitrary arrest, extortion, cruel treatment, and torture of LGBTQI people.
Agents and middlemen
People who act on behalf of foreign abusers — not just principals — can also be listed and lose access to the United States.
The State Department and White House
New duties: investigating cases, maintaining the public list, fielding congressional requests within 120 days, running a public submission process, and producing annual reports.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 6151 hasn't been debated on the floor yet.
This section updates when a legislator speaks about it on the floor or in committee.
HR6151 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Nov 19, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
About the Sponsor
Sarah McBride
Democrat, Delaware · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Science, Space, and Technology, Foreign Affairs
View full profile →
Cosponsors (141)
This bill has 141 cosponsors: 140 Democrats, 1 Republican. Cosponsors represent 34 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, and 31 more.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Sara Jacobs
Democrat · CA
Pete Aguilar
Democrat · CA
Gabe Amo
Democrat · RI
Yassamin Ansari
Democrat · AZ
Becca Balint
Democrat · VT
Nanette Barragán
Democrat · CA
Donald Beyer
Democrat · VA
Suzanne Bonamici
Democrat · OR
Julia Brownley
Democrat · CA
Nikki Budzinski
Democrat · IL
Salud Carbajal
Democrat · CA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
15 of 42 committee members cosponsored
Foreign Affairs Committee
20 of 50 committee members cosponsored
5 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 6151 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- International Affairs
- Introduced
- Nov 19, 2025
Referred to Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. for review
Nov 19, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill tracker with full text, 141 cosponsors, committee referral status, and actions for the Global Respect Act.
Sponsor's official statement reintroducing the Global Respect Act on November 20, 2025, with co-lead Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and 119 original cosponsors.
State Department's existing program for U.S. engagement on global LGBTQI+ rights — the policy frame this bill would convert from voluntary diplomatic effort into a mandatory visa-sanctions list.
Section 4 of H.R. 6151 directly tasks the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor with designating senior officers to track LGBTQI+ violence abroad.
Annual State Department human rights reports. Section 4(b) of H.R. 6151 amends the Foreign Assistance Act to require these reports to include information on violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
The statute Section 4(b)(1) of H.R. 6151 amends to require LGBTQI+ violence and discrimination reporting in the State Department's annual country human rights reports.
The visa revocation authority H.R. 6151 invokes (Section 221(i) of the INA) to immediately cancel U.S. visas held by listed foreign officials.
Primary committee where H.R. 6151 was referred on November 19, 2025. Currently chaired by Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL). Any markup or hearing on the Global Respect Act would originate here.
H.R. 6151 Common Questions
What does H.R. 6151 do?
H.R. 6151 — the Global Respect Act — would require the president to publish a list of foreign officials credibly tied to torturing or jailing LGBTQI people. Listed individuals become inadmissible to the U.S., and any existing U.S. visas they hold get revoked immediately.
What kinds of abuses trigger sanctions under the Global Respect Act?
The bill targets foreign people responsible for or complicit in torture, cruel or degrading treatment, prolonged detention without charges, forced disappearances, or other flagrant denials of life, liberty, or security based on a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
What U.S. penalties does H.R. 6151 actually impose?
Listed foreign officials become inadmissible to the United States, ineligible for any U.S. visa, and lose any other immigration benefit. Existing U.S. visas get revoked immediately, which automatically cancels any other valid entry documents the person holds.
Why do supporters say the Global Respect Act is needed?
The bill's findings cite that roughly one-third of countries criminalize consensual same-sex relations and 12 carry the possibility of the death penalty. The findings also state that police, prison, military, and civilian officials have been 'directly complicit' in arbitrary arrest, extortion, and torture of LGBTQI people.
Is the list of sanctioned foreign officials public?
Yes. The list goes to Congress within 180 days of enactment and gets published in the Federal Register, with updates every six months. Some names can be placed in a classified annex if making them public would harm national security — but the president must justify each one to Congress.
Can family members of a sanctioned official still come to the U.S.?
Yes, in some cases. The president can certify that an immediate family member has a reasonable fear of persecution — based on their own sexual orientation, gender identity, race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group — and exempt them. The certification must be made within 30 days.
Can someone be removed from the Global Respect Act list?
Yes. People come off the list if new evidence shows they didn't commit the abuse, if they've been appropriately prosecuted, if they've credibly changed behavior, or if removal is deemed vital to U.S. national security. The president must notify Congress 15 days before any removal.
Who introduced H.R. 6151?
Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE) — the first openly transgender member of Congress — introduced the Global Respect Act on November 19, 2025. The bill picked up 141 House cosponsors, with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) as the only Republican cosponsor at this stage.
Based on H.R. 6151 bill text
H.R. 6151 Bill Text
“To impose sanctions with respect to foreign persons responsible for violations of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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