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Dear John,
At Outright International, we’ve spent 35 years documenting the truth—amplifying the voices of LGBTIQ communities in the most dangerous places and holding power to account. We’ve seen progress, but we’ve also seen how quickly it can unravel.
Now, it’s unraveling at an alarming speed.
In January 2025, the U.S. government froze nearly all foreign assistance—abruptly cutting off a lifeline that supported LGBTIQ organizations around the world. In the span of days, vital programs protecting queer and trans people from violence, ensuring access to HIV treatment, and pushing for legal equality were halted. Activists were forced to shut down their offices. Safe spaces closed their doors. Life-saving services vanished overnight.
We knew we had to act fast—but we also knew we had to get it right.
Over the past few weeks, we have worked tirelessly to document the fallout. We spoke directly with LGBTIQ leaders from Trinidad and Tobago to Uganda, and from Ukraine to Indonesia. The stories they shared were not just about losing funding. They were about losing hope—about watching years of hard-fought progress slip away in real-time.
Today, we release Defunding Freedom – Impacts of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts on LGBTIQ People Worldwide ([link removed]) .
Download the Report ([link removed])
This report is the first comprehensive assessment of how these devastating cuts are endangering lives and dismantling progress.
What we found is chilling:
* 120 grants across 42 countries from Outright alone—terminated.
* Grassroots groups protecting LGBTIQ people from violence—shut down.
* Life-saving health care and HIV programs—defunded.
* Legal advocacy to fight criminalization—paused indefinitely.
This is not just a budget decision—it’s an assault on dignity, safety, and equality. And the most marginalized are paying the price.
But here’s what we know from 35 years on the frontlines: silence helps no one. When governments retreat, communities are left exposed. When aid is cut, violence fills the vacuum. When rights are threatened, only solidarity can push back.
We cannot let this stand. And neither can you.
Our report ([link removed]) is not just a record of harm—it is a rallying cry. For policymakers to act. For donors to fill the gaps. For all of us to stand with those fighting for their lives and their freedom.
Read the Report: Defunding Freedom ([link removed])
Share It. Discuss It. Demand Action.
The LGBTIQ movement has always been built on solidarity. We are resilient because we show up for each other—when governments fail, when the world looks away, when the risk feels too great.
Now is that moment. Unite with us. ([link removed])
With urgency,
Maria Sjödin (they/she)
Executive Director
Outright International
P.S. If you believe this work is vital, please consider making a donation. Your support sustains life-saving advocacy when others walk away. ([link removed])
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