We’re closing out our activities at the high-level week of the UN General Assembly, where our Executive Director Maria Sjödin chaired the LGBTI Core Group meeting and reminded us: “This year, as we are facing global backlash, this meeting feels even more important.”
And it was. In a year when anti-LGBTIQ laws are proliferating and rights are being rolled back, the LGBTI Core Group—a coalition of 40 UN member states committed to LGBTI human rights—stood together to coordinate advocacy, share strategies, and strengthen our collective response. This is the kind of cooperation that makes progress possible.
That reality of global backlash couldn't be clearer. While these 40 nations showed up for LGBTIQ people's human rights through the UN system, Outright's latest research on elections in 2024 shows how widespread the backlash has become: in 51 of the 60 countries covered in the report, anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric and discriminatory policies impacted the political landscape.
But our movement is no stranger to pursuing progress despite these challenges. Our elections report is continuing to educate on the barriers LGBTIQ people face when participating in the electoral process, and as Neela Ghoshal, Outright's Senior Director of Law, Policy and Research, stated in a recent interview with CNN, “Even with these barriers [...] they had the courage to continue forward.”
And progress is happening. We’ve seen powerful advocacy moments at the United Nations, released a critical report on LGBTIQ inclusion in Ukraine’s humanitarian response, and supported partners like Intersex Nigeria as they engage with the Nigerian government to address intersex healthcare needs. Step by step, Outright and our partners are building the momentum our movement needs.
For 35 years, Outright has met challenging moments with courage and unwavering commitment to LGBTIQ human rights—and we're not backing down. Progress is a collective project, and we're committed to doing our part to push our movement "Together, Forward."
