Former Exxon Mobile CEO Rex Tillerson was grilled by Democrats and Republicans alike today about a broad range of issues during his confirmation hearing to become Secretary of State.

Tillerson, who has raised concerns about his complete lack of political or diplomatic experience—as well as his overseas business dealings—endured aggressive questioning about his views on climate change, Russian hacking, and the Iran nuclear agreement.

He was also asked whether "gay rights are human rights," which he declined to respond to directly, answering, "American values don’t accommodate violence or discrimination against anyone.”

During Hillary Clinton and John Kerry's tenures, the State Department has been a champion of the LGBT community worldwide, providing aid to grassroots groups and pressuring governments to be inclusive and fair.

Since 2011, the State Department has given some $35 million to organizations working on LGBT issues around the world.

“To LGBT men and women worldwide... Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone,” Secretary Clinton said in a iconic speech in Geneva.

“People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.”

Under Clinton and Kerry, HIV/AIDS policies have also been updated to support evidence-based methods of prevention that work—instead of religion-based abstinence programs (which don't). The State Department has tied foreign aid to improvements in the treatment of LGBT citizens, and even appointed a special envoy to focus on LGBT rights.

Just this week, Secretary Kerry apologized for the historic persecution of gay men in the department.

Under Tillerson, though, all of that progress may very well go away.

As CEO, Tillerson refused add sexual orientation to ExxonMobil’s anti-discrimination policy until President Obama signed an executive order banning anti-LGBT bias by federal contractors. And the fuel company repeatedly received poor ratings on HRC's Corporate Equality Index under Tillerson—earning a -25 out of 100. (Yes, that's negative 25.)

Trump advisor Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, has called on Tillerson to revert back to the days of the “lavender scare” and fire all current LGBT employees at State. “The incoming administration needs to make clear that these liberal policies will be reversed and the ‘activists’ within the State Department promoting them will be ferreted out and will be replaced by conservatives.”

Last month, Trump's team requested a list of all state department positions related to advancing gender equality, and insiders worry a list of programs related to sexual orientation and gender identity will be next.

"Rex Tillerson's nomination raises critical questions as to how a Trump administration plans to protect LGBTQ employees and contractors affiliated with the State Department," wrote HRC president Chad Griffin in a statement.

“Will Trump and Tillerson take on brutal dictators like Putin, who have inspired attacks against LGBTQ people? Will they assist LGBTQ Muslim refugees fleeing death from ISIS? For millions of people around the globe, their position on these and other issues are a matter of life and death. These are among the questions that Senators—Democrats and Republicans alike—must ask."

There is a glimmer of hope Tillerson could be an ally. In 2013, the Eagle Scout was instrumental in convincing the Boy Scouts to admit gay scouts.

At that time, Perkins blasted Tillerson for “risking the well-being of young boys under his charge in an attempt to placate radical homosexual activists."

This level of pressure, Tillerson's conflicted history with LGBT rights, and the tremendous role the Secretary of State plays in advocating for human rights make it deeply troubling that Tillerson failed to specifically advocate for protections for LGBT people at all during his confirmation hearing Wednesday.