Blog: Perspectives

During Pride month, many people feel inspired to learn more about what it really takes to be an ally to the LGBTIQ community. Allies are crucial to the fight for recognition of the human rights of LGBTIQ people. Our allies serve as a much-needed reminder that the LGBTIQ community is not in this fight alone. 

But, what does it really mean to be an ally for the community? How can allies mark Pride with a Purpose?

On June 2, Google.org announced 2 million USD in support for OutRight’s Covid-19 Global LGBTIQ Emergency Fund. As part of this contribution, the fund will for the first time open up for applications from the United States and Canada.

LGBTIQ organizations will be able to submit applications for support. More information about the application process will be published on June 7.

OutRight is thrilled to again partner with P&G and iHeart Radio on Can’t Cancel Pride, a virtual relief benefit on June 4 at 9 p.m. ET for the LGBTIQ+ community. The event will stream on iHeartRadio’s TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram TV pages, iHeartRadio’s PrideRadio.com and Revry, and broadcast on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app.

In 2019 and 2020, OutRight, EnGenderRights, Women and Media Collective, and Venasa Transgender Network partnered to build on previous results achieved in 2016-2018 in the Philippines and Sri Lanka to improve LGBTIQ services and protections for domestic and family violence(DV/FV).  In the second phase of this project, the partnership has broadened the geographic reach within the two countries to other cities in the Philippines and to other rights organizations in Sri Lanka with the goal of strengthening the pre-conditions for instituting LGBTIQ inclusive, responsive services for domestic and family violence which are among the most prevalent forms of gender-based violence facing LGBTIQ communities.

During the last meeting of the board of OutRight Action International in February 2021, Aalap Shah was voted in as the new Co-Chair of the Board. Former Co-Chair Micheal Ighodaro stepped down after his term ended. Co-Chair Jenny Pizer continues in her role. 

On February 1, Myanmar’s military, the Tatmadaw, orchestrated a coup, alleging voter fraud in the November 8, 2020 elections that declared the National League for Democracy (NLD) the winner. The Tatmadaw has declared a state of emergency and arbitrarily detained the civilian government leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. Several other political leaders and state officials, who publicly criticized the coup, have been arrested and charged under Article 505(b) of the Penal Code for “public disturbance,” issuing statements or publications to undermine the government, and/or  “with intent to cause or likely cause fear or alarm to the public...offense against the State or against the public tranquility.” Penalties are fines and a potential two-year prison term. In response to the illegal military takeover, thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands) people are protesting countrywide in a Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).  

In 2018, OutRight received a two-year grant from the Human Rights Initiative of Open Society Foundations to lay the groundwork for an Asia regional platform of LGBTI-centered expertise on domestic and family violence (DV/FV) – providing opportunities for ideas and advocacy exchange and linking national anti-DV/FV initiatives to a regional platform on SOGIE and gender based violence (GBV). The grant also supports two country projects – a new Myanmar initiative undertaken in partnership with OutRight’s country partner, Equality Myanmar to advocate DV/FV legal protections for LGBT people and educate LGBT communities about DV/FV, and a Phase 2 Philippines project undertaken with EnGendeRights, Inc. to improve LGBTI help-seeking for DV/FV services from local government units (barangays) that were trained in Phase 1 of the project in 2016-2018.