The Trump-Vance administration’s determination to freeze practically all U.S. overseas support has had a devastating influence on LGBTQ communities in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan
The suspension of support has slashed vital USAID-funded tasks; jeopardizing healthcare, jobs, and companies for LGBTQ communities that usually depend on such funds to bridge gaps their very own governments overlook.
USAID for years championed LGBTQ communities world wide by means of initiatives just like the LGBTI International Growth Partnership, which has awarded greater than 100 grants to civil society organizations and educated greater than 1,700 LGBTQ entrepreneurs and enterprise homeowners.
USAID in 2022 launched the Alliance for International Equality, a 5-year collaboration that Outright Worldwide and the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute led. This initiative by March 2024 had awarded 39 grants in 16 nations, totaling practically $800,000, to advance LGBTQ human rights and inclusion.
In Nepal, USAID has supported efforts that embrace the Rights for Gender Various Populations program, partnering with native teams to lift consciousness of LGBTQ rights and enhance entry to healthcare and authorized companies for marginalized communities.
India’s MIST LGBTQ Basis, based mostly in Pune in Maharashtra state, is reeling from the funding freeze and is scrambling for different sources to maintain its mission.
MIST has been a lifeline for the LGBTQ neighborhood, driving HIV prevention, distributing PrEP, and spearheading empowerment applications, whereas partnering with medical doctors and psychological well being specialists. Reviews present the group delivered over 200 PrEP kits and carried out 300 HIV exams every month, a significant effort now in danger because the funding drought threatens to stall its work.
MIST has been a significant bridge for India’s LGBTQ neighborhood, reaching those that would possibly in any other case go unserved as a result of they’re usually cautious of approaching NGOs or government-run testing facilities as a result of stigma or mistrust.
“Together with USAID, now we have managed to make sure take a look at kits attain the properties of those that wish to take a look at at dwelling,” stated Shyam Konnur, MIST’s founder and CEO, throughout an interview with Indian Specific, a distinguished English newspaper in India. “Distribution of PrEP and condoms had been additionally a part of the initiative, MIST bore the price of parcelling and transport the kits.”
The Indian Specific reported MIST is now approaching company leaders and particular person donors to assist fill the funding hole.
The U.S. Embassy in India final June in New Delhi launched an open competitors for Empowering LGBTQI+ Neighborhood Management, a program designed to advertise equal entry and hone management expertise for India’s LGBTQ neighborhood. Aimed toward coaching at the very least 200 leaders—prioritizing transgender and intersex folks—the 12-month effort provided a grant between $120,000 and $150,000.
This system’s future is now doubtful.
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Reduction (PEPFAR) and USAID in January 2021 supported Program ACCELERATE, led by the Johns Hopkins College College of Medication, to determine Mitr Clinic, India’s first complete well being heart for the trans neighborhood in Hyderabad in Telangana state.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Feb. 9 criticized PEPFAR utilizing American tax {dollars} to fund such trans clinics. The Louisiana Republican’s X publish particularly famous Mitr.
Mitr didn’t reply to the Washington Blade’s repeated requests for remark.
South First, an Indian information outlet, later reported the clinic closed due to the USAID funding disruptions. Telangana’s state-run Maithri Clinic, which has served comparable populations since 2018, will reportedly not obtain state funding.
Span, {a magazine} that the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has printed since 1960 to be able to foster ties between the U.S. and India, one highlighted the Mitr clinic. The U.S. Consulate Common in Mumbai final August celebrated the clinic’s achievements with an Instagram publish. The Span report on the clinic has been faraway from its web site.
The Blade reached out to the Humsafar Belief, a Mumbai-based advocacy group, for remark, nevertheless it declined.
Recognized for its work in HIV prevention and care, the Humsafar Belief has collaborated with USAID on efforts concentrating on males who’ve intercourse with males and trans folks. It has additionally spearheaded greater than 25 nationwide and worldwide analysis research—some backed by USAID—to form insurance policies and applications for India’s LGBTQ neighborhood.
The Democratic Processes Mission, which USAID launched in Nepal on Could 27, 2024, sought to bolster inclusiveness and responsiveness of the nation’s democratic methods and make them extra resilient. With a pointy give attention to empowering marginalized teams—together with the LGBTQ neighborhood—the initiative aimed to amplify their function in governance and decision-making, whereas strengthening civic engagement and institutional capability to serve all residents equitably.
A report in the Diplomat warns that President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 govt order that claims the U.S. federal authorities will solely acknowledge two genders—female and male— has left Nepal’s LGBTQ neighborhood on edge. The directive, which additionally halts federal funding for trans-related applications, threatens the greater than a dozen LGBTQ teams that work in Nepal and will price greater than 300 neighborhood members their jobs.
“Whereas it will influence U.S.-funded organizations, tasks and jobs, stated Sunil Babu Pant, LGBTQ rights activist and Asia’s first overtly homosexual parliamentarian, in an interview with the Diplomat. “It is not going to influence your complete LGBTQI neighborhood as condoms are inexpensive, antiretroviral remedy for HIV and sexual well being applications are already included within the authorities funds.”
The Blade contacted the Blue Diamond Society, a number one LGBTQ rights group in Nepal that Babu based and a longtime USAID beneficiary, for touch upon the funding freeze. The group didn’t instantly reply.
In the meantime, the Nepali Occasions reviews that just about $700 million in USAID grants, slated to help Nepal by means of 2027, at the moment are doubtful.
In Bangladesh, USAID has been a key power in advancing LGBTQ initiatives.
The nation’s parliament acknowledged “hijras” as a 3rd gender in 2014, and USAID in 2021 labored with native organizations to make sure their inclusion within the nationwide Census.
By means of its Rights for Gender Various Populations program, USAID sought to strengthen civil society, coaching human rights activists to doc and deal with violations whereas serving to LGBTQ folks navigate their rights. USAID additionally joined forces with 15 native radio stations to broadcast gender range consciousness nationwide.
USAID in Could 2023 partnered with the Bandhu Social Welfare Society and Sompriti Samaj, a Bangladeshi NGO centered on neighborhood empowerment, to launch the SHOMOTA (Equality) Mission—a 5-year effort to uplift Bangladesh’s gender-diverse populations.
The initiative sought to spice up the socio-economic and cultural standing of trans and hijra communities in eight cities: Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Barishal. It deliberate to instantly help 8,700 folks and supply important sources and outreach to 4,750 extra, together with organizations, by means of 2028.
Greater than 100 improvement tasks launched in Bangladesh with USAID backing floor to a halt after Trump issued his govt order, placing the roles of roughly 50,000 NGO workers in danger.
In Pakistan, the USAID funding freeze dealt a pointy blow to HIV/AIDS prevention and therapy applications, hitting trans folks and males who’ve intercourse with males particularly arduous. As soon as sustained by USAID help, these initiatives supplied vital drugs and care, however their sudden suspension has left many with out entry to life-saving antiretrovirals and help companies. Native organizations championing LGBTQ rights and inclusion, reliant on these funds, have been compelled to cut back or shut down.
