In 2024, often against the odds, GiveOut’s grant partners have achieved significant progress in defending and advancing LGBTQI human rights. This has been against a backdrop of significant challenges, including a roll back of rights in some contexts, shifts in funding and well-coordinated anti-LGBTQI movements, which underscore the urgent need for solidarity and action.
As we reflect on the year, we are immensely proud of our partners’ transformative impact and deeply grateful to you—our supporters—for giving to fuel this vital work.
Here are 12 ways your generous support has made a difference in 2024:
1. Requirement for Forced Sterilisation of Trans People to Legally Change Gender in the Czech Republic Ruled Unconstitutional
In the Czech Republic, a groundbreaking legal case supported by Trans*parent challenged the requirement of sterilisation for legal gender recognition for transgender people. After a long legal battle, this requirement was finally deemed unconstitutional in 2024 by the Czech Constitutional Court, which ruled it violated human dignity and the right to bodily autonomy. The court’s decision marked a significant milestone in transgender rights, forcing the government to revise the law by 2025. This landmark ruling was part of broader efforts to promote trans rights, supported by awareness campaigns and initiatives providing psycho-social support to the trans community.
2. Recognising Same-Sex Marriages in Nepal
Mayako Pahichan is advancing marriage equality for LGBTQI couples in Nepal. The organisation was instrumental in winning a 2023 Supreme Court order to recognise same-sex marriages, as well as overcoming challenges like the initial rejection of the marriage of trans woman Maya Gurung and her partner Surendra Pandey, who eventually became the first legally recognised same-sex married couple in Nepal. Thanks to the efforts of Mayako Pahichan, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed local administrations to record same-sex marriages, with seven registered to date. Mayako Pahichan continues advocating for permanent legal recognition and equal rights for LGBTQI couples.
3. Winning Marriage Equality in Thailand
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage after its king signed the marriage equality bill into law. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, which strengthens LGBTQI movements across the region, including in Thailand, hailed this as a major milestone. The law, set to take effect in January 2025, grants same-sex couples equal rights in areas like inheritance, healthcare, and taxation, marking a significant victory for LGBTQI rights in Thailand.
4. Decriminalising Homosexuality Through the Courts in Mauritius and Namibia
Mauritius and Namibia took historic steps for LGBTQI rights by decriminalising same-sex relationships. The Other Foundation played a pivotal role, offering financial and strategic support to local activists challenging the discriminatory laws. In Namibia, the foundation backed Friedel Dausab’s fight against the colonial-era sodomy law. His courage, along with other local efforts, shifted public opinion and led to this victory. And in Botswana, the High Court reaffirmed its 2019 ruling decriminalising same-sex relations. The Other Foundation provided crucial support for activists and local organisations defending the case.
5. Advancing Trans Rights in India with CLPR and SAATHII
In India, our grant partners are making significant strides in advancing the rights of transgender individuals. The Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR) is driving progress through strategic public interest litigation, successfully advocating for horizontal reservations to ensure trans individuals can access employment opportunities without losing caste-based entitlements in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, SAATHII’s fellowship programme has empowered two activists to create transformative change in their local communities. Their work includes sensitising healthcare workers to the challenges faced by trans people, facilitating access to essential benefits like pensions, food security, and identity cards, and successfully advocating for the removal of invasive screenings for trans men. These efforts are aligning healthcare practices with international standards and ensuring dignity and equality for trans individuals.
6. Supporting Intersex, Trans, and Gender Non-Conforming Refugees from Uganda
With funding from GiveOut’s East Africa appeal, provided through the International Trans Fund, a grant was awarded to Refugee Trans Initiative (RTI) to support intersex, trans, and gender non-conforming refugees arriving in Kenya from Uganda following the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. This emergency support provided food relief, security training, and legal aid to ensure the safety, well-being, and access to essential services for these vulnerable individuals.
7. Landmark Legal Victory for LGBTQI Refugee Rights in Armenia
Pink Armenia achieved a groundbreaking legal victory, helping secure asylum for Salman Mukayev, an LGBTQI man who fled Chechnya. The Administrative Court of Armenia ruled that Mukayev, who faced persecution and torture due to his sexual orientation, must be granted refugee status. This decision, supported by Pink Armenia’s legal efforts, sets a significant precedent in protecting LGBTQI individuals from persecution, reinforcing Armenia’s commitment to safeguarding human rights, especially for vulnerable communities facing threats in their home countries.
8. Establishing Mongolia’s First Trans-Led Organisation
Mongolia’s LGBT Centre is transforming the landscape for the country’s trans community by empowering trans voices to lead through their Trans Leadership Programme, a six-month initiative to build leadership, advocacy, and community-building skills. This year, the programme culminated in the creation of Trans for Unity, Mongolia’s first trans-led organisation. Formed and led by graduates of the Leadership Programme, Trans for Unity advocates directly for the needs of Mongolia’s trans community. With ongoing support from the LGBT Centre, Trans for Unity has quickly become a cornerstone for trans-led advocacy in Mongolia, inspiring other trans Mongolians to believe in their potential to create change.
9. Building the Economic Case for LGBTQI Inclusion
New initiatives in the Western Balkans, Turkey, and South Africa are highlighting the economic cost of excluding LGBTQI communities. LGBTI ERA, in partnership with the World Bank, conducted studies in North Macedonia and Serbia revealing that labor market exclusion based on SOGIE results in annual economic losses of 0.5% of GDP in both countries.
Meanwhile, research by The Other Foundation in South Africa explored the economic opportunities unlocked when LGBTQI individuals are recognised as a market segment. Their findings revealed that the LGBTQI market in South Africa is valued at least R250 billion annually (approximately $10.75 billion USD). The report emphasised, “The value of the LGBTQI market is testament to the economic potential that could be unlocked if barriers to full participation are removed and more accepting social attitudes prevail.”
10. Sharing Knowledge Around LGBTQI Rights and Climate Change
GiveOut hosted a knowledge sharing forum to facilitate international collaboration, creating space for activists and researchers to share and learn strategies. Leaders of LGBTQI organisations from around the world and two researchers specialising in this field came together to share their work on the intersection of LGBTQI rights and the climate crisis, and discussed their priorities, barriers to secure funding, and the role funders with links to climate issues should play. The funding from this forum will feed into a convening with LGBTQI activists and climate and environment funders in early 2025.
11. New Resource Launched to Support Intersex Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Intersex refugees face unique challenges, often compounded by discrimination, exclusion, and harmful medical practices including Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM). In response, VIMÖ, an intersex-led Austrian organisation, launched a programme to support intersex asylum seekers, funded by the Intersex Human Rights Fund, a grant partner of GiveOut. They collaborated with OII Europe to release the OII Europe Refugees & Asylum Seekers Toolkit, a resource designed to help professionals in the asylum system understand and address the specific needs of intersex refugees.
12. Supporting Displaced LGBTQI People in Lebanon
Helem, Lebanon’s first LGBTQI NGO, has long provided safe spaces and vital support services for LGBTQI individuals through their community centre. Recognising that LGBTQI people are disproportionately impacted during times of war and crisis, Helem has expanded its efforts to offer vital humanitarian assistance. This includes providing emergency shelter, food, and essential supplies to LGBTQI individuals displaced by the escalating violence in the region.
Thank You So Much
This work simply would not be possible without you – our community of supporters. Thank you so much to everyone who has given this year.
Looking ahead, we warmly invite you to join us in continuing to support the global movement for LGBTQI human rights with GiveOut, ensuring that LGBTQI people everywhere can live freely and fully.
For those celebrating Christmas, we wish you a happy and restful festive period, and here’s to another year of standing in solidarity with LGBTQI activists around the world.