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Dear John,
Reflecting on 2024, we are reminded that progress never comes easily—but it is always worth fighting for. This year, Outright International stood resolutely with LGBTIQ people around the world, navigating a landscape of both inspiring advancements and sobering challenges.
From monitoring the rising tide of anti-LGBTIQ laws to celebrating landmark victories, Outright remained a steadfast advocate for inclusion and human rights. Together with in-country defenders and global allies, we celebrated milestones like the High Court of Namibia’s historic decision to decriminalize same-sex intimacy—a decisive step toward equality. Yet, we also tracked alarming trends, such as the institutionalization of queerphobia in countries like Uganda and Ghana, underscoring the urgent need for vigilance.
Here’s a Snapshot of What We Accomplished Together in 2024:
- 🎤 OutSummit 2024: This year’s OutSummit, our flagship global convening, embraced a hybrid format, bringing together over 85 countries’ worth of activists, allies, and changemakers. Attendees participated virtually and in person, uniting across time zones to discuss some of our communities' most pressing issues—from elevating intersex voices in global policy discussions to building resilience in humanitarian responses for marginalized communities.
- 📊 Empowering Research: Reports like Empowering Identity: The Case for Self-Determined Legal Gender Recognition and They Know What We Don’t: Meaningful Inclusion of LGBTIQ People in Humanitarian Action offered actionable insights to drive policy change and advocate for marginalized voices.
- 🌍Global Impact: From amplifying intersex voices in South Africa to highlighting LGBTIQ resistance in Myanmar, Outright was at the forefront of documenting and amplifying the lived realities of our communities.
- 📖 United Nations Collaboration: Through our advocacy and partnership with global organizations, the UN adopted its first-ever resolution addressing intersex human rights—a monumental step toward global recognition.
- ✊ Regional Wins: Through initiatives like Golden Rainbow, we amplified the voices of older LGBTI individuals, shedding light on the intersection of aging and queerness, while continuing to advocate for equality in humanitarian and sports spaces.
- ⚖️ Amidst these victories, our Rights in Retrograde series provided a critical analysis of how global legal systems can both harm and heal, illuminating pathways for resistance in an increasingly polarized world.
As we look ahead to 2025—our 35th anniversary—we are energized by the progress we’ve made and the work still to be done. This milestone offers an opportunity to celebrate our history, reflect on our resilience, and chart a bold course for the future of human rights for LGBTIQ people.
Thank you for standing with us every step of the way. Together, we rise.
With gratitude,
Maria Sjödin [they/she]
Executive Director
Outright International
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