Chair Pocan Writes to Fellowship Foundation on their Anti-LGBTQI+ Activities

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) sent a letter to Katherine Crane, President of the Fellowship Foundation (also known as The Family), regarding the Foundation's potential involvement in legislation abroad that imposes the death penalty for LGBTQI+ people, including the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Acts (AHA), and their involvement with both international and domestic anti-LGBTQI+ causes.

In the letter, Rep. Pocan writes:

"Since the passage of [Uganda's] first Anti-Homosexuality Act a decade ago, there have been numerous reports linking both bills, their authors, and the larger movement to further criminalize LGBTQI+ people in Uganda to the Fellowship Foundation/the Family, and its associates."

The letter later continues:

"Domestically, there has also been significant concern about the Fellowship Foundation's support for anti-LGBTQI+ causes. Last year, the U.S. National Prayer Breakfast was split into two events because of concerns over the Fellowship Foundation's involvement. Questions, however, have continued to be raised about the Fellowship Foundation's continued involvement with the National Prayer Breakfast despite this split. "

Rep. Pocan asked Ms. Crane to respond to questions regarding: the Foundation's communications with Ugandan officials regarding the AHA; if the Foundation supports or opposes the AHA, and if the Foundation opposes the AHA, if they will publicly announce their opposition to it and other bills that criminalize LGBTQI+ people, especially those that impose the death penalty; the Foundation's financial support for advocacy activities in Uganda and what other countries the Foundation provides similar support in; and if members of the new National Prayer Breakfast board are affiliated with the Foundation. Rep. Pocan requests Ms. Crane respond to his questions with answers no later than February 28th, 2024.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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Founded in 2008, the Congressional Equality Caucus is dedicated to promoting 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.