THE POWER OF COMMUNITY: 12 WAYS YOUR SUPPORT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 2023
Often against the odds and in the face of concerted efforts to roll back LGBTQI rights, with your support GiveOut’s partners have won important victories in 2023.
Around the world, LGBTQI people continue to face discrimination, violence, and other serious abuses simply for being who we are. Enormous financial resources are flowing to those groups working to undermine and roll back LGBTQI rights, as we have seen this year in Uganda and the wider East Africa region.
In response, 2023 has seen LGBTQI activists organising in new ways, working to protect their communities, and campaigning for equality, relying on the support of our global community and allies.
This year, GiveOut marked our 5th anniversary, providing an opportunity to reflect on the progress that supporters like you have helped make possible – over the last five years we have channelled £1.75 million in new funding to support more than 40 impactful LGBTQI organisations worldwide.
Throughout 2023, we have continued to bring together our community and allies to support more LGBTQI organisations than ever before, providing courageous activists with more of the resources they need to build a brighter future for LGBTQI people.
We are so proud to share with you our 2022/23 Annual Impact Report, a celebration of the progress we can achieve together, and to include 12 highlights below, to show how your support has made a difference over the last year.
1. CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY IN UKRAINE
As we usher in 2024, the war in Ukraine persists. Throughout 2023, Ukraine has continued to endure profound devastation, with thousands more lives lost, countless injuries, and the displacement of millions. Amidst the chaos of war and other crises, the LGBTQI community often bears a disproportionate burden, frequently overlooked or excluded from mainstream humanitarian initiatives.
Thanks to your support through donations to GiveOut’s Ukraine Appeal with Outright International, our partners in Ukraine, including Kyiv Pride and Insight, have been able to respond to the continuous influx of requests for support from the LGBTQI community, providing emergency shelter, food, and other humanitarian assistance. Your support has also enabled LGBTQI organisations to sustain some of their pre-war advocacy efforts and help ensure the survival and advancement of the LGBTQI rights movement in Ukraine.
Watch Kyiv Pride Executive Director Lenny Emson speak at GiveOut’s 5th Year Anniversary Event
2. WINNING THE RIGHT FOR LGBTQI ORGANISATIONS TO EXIST IN KENYA
In February of this year, Kenya's Supreme Court delivered a groundbreaking ruling affirming the constitutional rights of freedom of association without discrimination for our grant partner, the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC).
This landmark decision mandated Kenya’s NGO Board to register NGLHRC as a non-governmental organisation (NGO), explicitly allowing the use of the terms 'gay' and 'lesbian' in its name. The ruling paves the way for more LGBTQI NGOs to register and build a stronger civil society, providing the support LGBTQI people need.
Watch NGHLRC Executive Director Njeri Gateru speak about the long journey to justice to register NGLHRC.
3. PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY IN UGANDA AND EAST AFRICA
Since the introduction of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda, East Africa has experienced an unprecedented wave of rights abuses against LGBTQI people. While at least six people have now been charged under the Act, which was enacted in May and includes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, the harsh legislation also radicalised the public against the LGBTQI community, leading to an increase in mob-based attacks, with LGBTQI people driven from their homes.
GiveOut activated our Emergency Fund, and in an incredible show of solidarity our community and allies donated over £40,000 to support our grant partners in the region. For LGBTQI people forced to flee their homes, your contributions helped provide safe shelter, emergency support to LGBTQI victims of violence, torture and discrimination, as well as the relocation to safer areas of LGBTQI drop-in centres and health clinics.
Your support will also assist the consortium of organisations now leading the constitutional challenge to the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda’s courts, with hearings due to begin early next year.
4. SECURING A COMMITMENT BY SRI LANKA TO DECRIMINALISE SAME-SEX RELATIONS
Following many years of advocacy by our partner EQUAL GROUND, the Sri Lankan government has announced that it will decriminalise homosexuality. When asked about how laws that criminalise homosexuality impact the lives of LGBTQI people, EQUAL GROUND Executive Director Rosanna Flamer-Caldera explained to us:
“You cannot be free to be who you are in a country where homosexuality is criminalised. You have a lot of shame and stigma within yourself, so mental health issues are rife. In all parts of society, you are discriminated against, whether that’s at work, at school… and depending on what part of society you are from, if you are from a low- or middle-income family, you hardly have any rights to begin with, so being queer is adding fuel to the fire, so to speak. It’s going to take a lot more sensitising and education, but now we will have the law on our side.”
This commitment to decriminalise follows last year’s decision by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in response to a case brought by Rosanna. The Committee found that the criminalisation of consensual, same-sex intimacy between women was a human rights violation, a decision that other CEDAW country signatories will need to consider.
5. ENDING THE FORCED STERILISATION OF TRANS PEOPLE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Republic is one of the last remaining countries in Europe to require forced sterilisation before a trans person can begin to change their legal gender identity. This year, following advocacy by our partner Trans*parent, the Ministry of Justice, alongside the Human Rights Commissioner, produced draft legislation that would end forced sterilisation. Whilst this still requires ratification by the legislature and President to become law, this has the potential to be a crucial step forward for trans rights in the region.
Speaking about the government’s commitment, Trans*parent’s Chairman Viktor Heumann told us:
“The abolition of forced castrations would be a historical milestone and a great move for the Czech Republic towards western-respecting democracies, so we hope for the fastest possible legislative process and a change that finally recognises the value of every human being."
6. NEW UK FUNDING FOR LGBTQI EQUALITY
In November this year, GiveOut partnered with the Baring Foundation to deliver the first UK LGBTQI Global Giving Summit, bringing together leading donors to catalyse more funding for grassroots LGBTQI organisations around the world.
The UK government announced more than £40 million in new funding commitments over the coming five years to support LGBTQI equality globally, including the £25 million multi-donor Equal, Safe and Free Fund, and support for GiveOut’s LGBTQI Solidarity Fund.
To inform discussion at the Summit, GiveOut published first-of-its-kind research on current UK funding and giving across four key donor groups - the UK Government, foundations, corporates, and individuals.
7. OVERTURNING AN ANTI-TRANS LAW IN INDIA
After a five-year legal battle, the Telangana High Court in India struck down the Telangana Eunuchs Act of 1919 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and intruded on the private lives of trans people. This draconian legislation, challenged by our partner the Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR), effectively criminalised and stigmatised the entire trans community in the state of Telangana, which has a population of 38 million people.
Along with striking down the Act, the High Court also ordered the government to provide welfare payments to trans people living below the poverty line, and develop a comprehensive policy on education and public sector employment for trans people.
8. COMMENCING WORLD FIRST RESEARCH ON TRANS RIGHTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Little research exists that maps the relationship between climate change and LGBTQI rights, including how it affects trans members of our community. This is why our grant partner the United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS) launched a groundbreaking research project that will, for the first time, examine the linkages between legal gender recognition and the impacts of climate change in the Caribbean.
This research will provide the foundation for UCTRANS’ ongoing climate justice work and strategies, enabling the LGBTQI community in the Caribbean to be resilient to climate disasters and evidence how LGBTQI people are more at risk.
Watch UCTRANS Executive Director Alexus D'Marco speak with GiveOut Trustee Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir about how UCTRANS are using conversations around climate change to bring attention to the plight of trans people.
9. BRINGING TOGETHER LGBTQI PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN LEBANON
In many contexts, LGBTQI people face the prospect of being made homeless or losing their support network by coming out or having their sexuality or gender identity discovered. In Lebanon, our partner Helem created the Family Support Programme to bring together LGBTQI people and their families to share their experiences, speak about their feelings and concerns, and resolve familial differences.
One of the mothers involved in the programme has gone on to educate other parents in her community to accept and embrace their children regardless of their sexuality or gender identity, and has formed a coalition of parents to work towards decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Lebanon. Reflecting on the importance of family support for LGBTQI people, she said:
“Our societies have built walls and chains that lead us to live in hiding and conceal the truth to protect our loved ones from rejection, abuse, and violence, sometimes, sadly, by the closest people to us. Our home, family, safe space, and shelter become hostile environments. How can one feel safe in this world if they can’t feel safe to be who they are in their own home?”
Helem also produced a video series titled ‘Your Love Matters’ featuring participants from the Family Support Programme. This was the first time in the history of the Arab LGBTQI movement that parents participated in a campaign encouraging other parents to accept their LGBTQI children and love them unconditionally.
Watch Helem’s groundbreaking Your Love Matters campaign.
10. GROWING LGBTQI ACCEPTANCE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS
To understand and shift attitudes, ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association of Western Balkans and Turkey conducted research on attitudes to LGBTQI rights across the Western Balkans. This research is critical in assessing the impact of the LGBTQI movement’s work in the region and enabling LGBTQI organisations to conduct effective evidence-based advocacy, capacity building, and campaign work.
The research found that since 2015, there has been progress in shifting attitudes across most countries in the Western Balkans. While public support is still not where it needs to be, the research reinforced the power of having a personal connection to an LGBTQI person to increase acceptance and support, and the importance of media representation and education programmes in building understanding.
Watch ERA Co-Executive Director Danijel Kalezic speak with GiveOut’s Head of Grant-Making Jason Ball on ERA’s work supporting the LGBTQI movement across the Western Balkans and Turkey.
11. PROTECTING INTERSEX CHILDREN IN KENYA
Intersex Persons Society of Kenya, supported by our partner the Intersex Human Rights Fund, successfully pushed for an “intersex” category to be included in the national census and played a key role in winning new legal protections for intersex children against so-called “sex normalisation” surgeries.
And in May of this year, Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights announced that it is working towards ensuring the establishment of a legal framework that will fill remaining gaps in the law for the protection of the rights of intersex people, including in employment, health services, the justice system, and education, among other sectors.
Speaking about the changes, Jedidah Wakonyo, former Chair of the Intersex Persons Society of Kenya, said:
“This is a great and major milestone globally for Kenya. We are now way ahead and can teach our neighbours and the whole globe good practices.”
12. SHOWING SOLIDARITY WITH OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY
We are so grateful to have you by our side, working with us to support these incredible organisations and initiatives to advance equality around the world and support the development of a robust and resilient global LGBTQI movement.
The anti-LGBTQI movement is investing heavily in stopping progress and eroding hard-won rights, but this dark money is being challenged by strategic investment and support from our community and allies.
This year you have joined us in meeting this challenge in new and exciting ways, including:
Celebrating our 5th anniversary, bringing together our supporters and partners from across the world to share and learn about five pillars of activism for equality
Raising over £130,000 through City For LGBT+, a record amount to support three incredible organisations - NGLHRC, ERA and Consortium
Launching GiveOut’s Germany Circle with support from IDENTITY Ventures, bringing together our community and allies in Berlin to support the global LGBTQI movement
Securing support from the UK government for our LGBTQI Solidarity Fund which will launch next year and be used to match funding from individuals and corporates, to advance equality and fight against the rollback of LGBTQI rights around the world
THANK YOU SO MUCH
This work would simply not be possible without your support, and so we would like to say a huge thank you!
As we look ahead to 2024, courageous LGBTQI activists will continue to need your solidarity and support. Next year will see milestone elections across the globe that could go some way in influencing the direction of LGBTQI rights.
However, as we have seen throughout 2023, from Ukraine to Uganda, despite all the challenges our movement faces, we know that when we stand together, we can achieve incredible things. We hope we can count on your continued support.
For those celebrating Christmas, we wish you a happy and restful festive period, and here’s to another year of showing the power of our community as we stand in solidarity with LGBTQI activists around the world.
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