Scott Long

Scott Long is the founding director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Division of Human Rights Watch. For almost 20 years and on several continents, he has been a leading activist for LGBT people’s basic rights. His research and advocacy against human rights violations based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status has involved extensive work in countries including Egypt, Iraq, Romania, South Africa, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Long's efforts helped bring a sudden end to a state crackdown on gay men in Egypt that had seen hundreds or thousands of men jailed and tortured. For five years he lobbied the United Nations on sexual rights issues; his work led to U.N. human rights mechanisms agreeing publicly for the first time to take up gay and lesbian concerns.

Long has taught at the University of Budapest, as well as holding a Fulbright lectureship at the University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. He was a founding member of the Romanian gay and lesbian organization ACCEPT. His work spearheaded a European campaign and contributed strongly to Romania's eventual repeal of Article 200 in 2001. While in the latter capacity shortly after the Romanian revolution, he began his career as a human rights activist, documenting and defending people imprisoned under Romania's repressive sodomy law.

Human Rights Watch is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. Its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Division combats violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide, and campaigns for effective legal and constitutional protections.