The Caribbean LGBTQI Fund
The Caribbean LGBTQI Fund supports organisations working to build a more just, inclusive and safe future for LGBTQI people across the Caribbean – strengthening human rights and creating a fairer society for everyone.
Why this fund matters now: a critical moment of progress, pressure, and possibility for LGBTQI rights in the Caribbean.
Across the Caribbean, LGBTQI people face criminalisation, discrimination and violence – simply for being themselves. Colonial-era laws still exist in many countries, criminalising same-sex intimacy and denying LGBTQI people even the most basic protections under the law.
There are no national laws protecting LGBTQI people from discrimination in housing, healthcare or employment, and no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in the majority of Caribbean countries.
And yet, in the face of this, progress is being made.
In recent years, local activists have led successful legal challenges resulting in the decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica. These hard-won victories are opening the door to deeper, long-term change – often driven by grassroots organisations working with little funding and at personal risk.
“ECADE welcomes this historic decision affirming the dignity and humanity of LGBTQI individuals in Saint Lucia. It marks the fourth major decision in a regional, five-country legal challenge led by ECADE since 2020, following similar rulings in Antigua and Barbuda (June 2022), Saint Kitts and Nevis (August 2022) and Barbados (December 2022).”
But even in the wake of these legal wins, LGBTQI people are still denied equal rights. Most Caribbean countries have no protections against discrimination and no recognition of LGBTQI relationships.
The Caribbean LGBTQI Fund was created to ensure local movements aren’t just surviving, but growing stronger – with the resources they need to advance equality, protect rights and drive lasting change across the region.
The Fund supports the work of our grant partners across:
- Legal reform and strategic litigation
- Community safety and mental health support
- Civic education and leadership programmes
- Regional trans and queer-led networks
- Initiatives focused on housing, healthcare and economic empowerment
- Delivering emergency support in times of crisis
“As someone born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, I know that living freely and safely abroad is a privilege. I also recognise the courage of my Caribbean community, who still fight daily for dignity. Our history is one of resistance and resilience. As funding collapses and hostility rises worldwide, I feel compelled to act. This fund honours that strength and sustains it — because we all share the fight for a more inclusive future.”
How the Fund Works
The Caribbean LGBTQI Fund provides targeted grants to organisations advancing equality and protecting the rights of LGBTQI communities across the Caribbean.
Individuals and businesses can contribute to the Fund through GiveOut. Donations are pooled and distributed to a carefully selected group of partners working on the front lines of change – through legal reform, community support, advocacy and education.
All grant partners are identified through a rigorous process of consultation, due diligence and vetting, and form part of GiveOut’s wider global portfolio supporting LGBTQI activism in underfunded regions.
To ensure the sustainability of the LGBTQI movement, we provide unrestricted grants to LGBTQI organisations so they can respond quickly to emerging needs, invest in long-term capacity building, cover essential operational costs, and pursue innovative approaches – giving these organisations the flexibility to determine how best to advance LGBTQI rights and create lasting change in their communities.
About Liam Rezende, Founder of The Caribbean Fund
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Liam Rezende is a long-time advocate for LGBTQI equality and inclusion. He cofounded the Checking-IN hospitality network, led global campaigns as Global Co-Chair of HyPride at Hyatt, and has spoken at the UK House of Commons on the impact of anti-LGBTQI laws across the Commonwealth and their link to colonialism. He was a contributing author and research fellow for Open For Business on The Economic Case for LGBT+ Inclusion in the Caribbean, and now serves as a Trustee at Open For Business, a global coalition advancing LGBTQI rights, and at The Adult Literacy Trust, which addresses low literacy as a driver of inequality. Alongside his advocacy, Liam is Associate Director of Global Sustainability Brand & Marketing at EY, where he leads purpose-driven campaigns at the intersection of business, sustainability and social impact.
Grant Partners in the Caribbean
Donate to the Caribbean LGBTQI Fund
To make a donation to the Fund, please click the button below. For any questions, to discuss how you or your business can get involved, or to donate via bank transfer, please contact GiveOut’s philanthropy team at give@giveout.org.