On February 11th, 30 students, alumni and faculty attended “A Conversation with Human Rights Advocates on the Current State of LGBTQI+ Rights Around the World” on the Morningside Campus. Stephanie Grepo of ISHR opened the event and introduced Luiza Drummond Veado of UNDP who moderated the conversation with four participants in the 2024-25 Human Rights Advocates Program.
In response to Luiza’s question to the advocates on the challenges they face and how they mitigate them, Connex Khomba, Advocacy and Grants Manager for the Ivy Foundation in Malawi, highlighted the lack of policy protections in social and economic sectors including education and housing. He said that many LGBTIQ individuals are evicted from their homes by landlords or family members, leading to homelessness and further social exclusion. Connex shared that the Ivy Foundation operates safe houses, one exclusively for asylum seekers. He added, “Our capacity is limited as the cases of homelessness are very high, so we are focusing on advocating for stronger housing rights and protections from the government.” Luiza underscored that the global funding cut by the US Government has significantly hindered efforts to support these vulnerable populations. Connex noted that one of the safe houses operated by the Ivy Foundation was closed due to the recent cuts in funding by the US.
Bojana Jokic, the President of LGBT Forum Progress in Montenegro responded: “Activists in Montenegro continue to face various threats. While incidents of physical violence have decreased, stigmatization remains deeply rooted, with approximately 70 percent of the population holding homophobic views. Our society is politically divided into two camps, yet not significantly different in ideology, as both sides include highly conservative politicians. This situation is deeply concerning for LGBT Forum Progress, as it highlights the persistent challenges in achieving true equality and social acceptance.”
Gustavo Coutinho, a human rights lawyer and the Coordinator for the International Association for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Intersex for Latin America and the Caribbean (ILGALAC), shared the following: “As we are facing a backlash against LGBTQI+ and women's rights globally, creating these powerful spaces with key actors such as UNDP and other organizations is vital to expand the conversation and process it collectively. At this moment, we as a society are going through a debate about the duties of States if it is legitimate to enforce LGBTQI+ rights and also a crisis in multilateralism. In Latin America, even though many countries have a broad legal framework to protect LGBTQI+ human rights, we still lack in law enforcement. Hate crimes are on the rise, and our population still suffers with no access to socioeconomic rights, such as housing, healthcare, and education. That's why we need the engagement of the community with our work.”
Kutlwano Magashula, the Executive Officer for Programs at The Other Foundation in South Africa, responded: “For decades, African LGBTI movements have relied heavily on international donors for funding. The recent funding cuts by the US government show just how dangerous this reliance is for LGBTI movements. The financial insecurity it has caused has threatened essential services, advocacy efforts, and the sustainability of LGBTI organizations. The progress that we have made as a region is under serious threat.
“Continued reliance on external funding also fuels the false and dangerous narrative that LGBTI rights are a Western import, further marginalizing our communities. To secure our future, we must take ownership of resourcing our own movements. Local philanthropy strengthens our financial independence, enhances political resilience, and roots the fight for LGBTI rights within African communities. By mobilizing funds from individuals, businesses, and institutions within the region, we can ensure that LGBTI movements are sustainable, credible, and driven by local priorities. However, we need much more than that and private philanthropy has a role to play in supporting movements. There is a need to invest in decolonial and reparative funding mechanisms that look to repair historical injustices and redistribute wealth.
“It is also important to remember that we have been here before as a movement. Backlash is not something new to us and we need to draw from the resources and tools that made us resilient to weather this current storm.”
