Insights

2024 United in Resilience - 2025 United for Change

Region(s)

Global

TOPIC(s)

LGBTIQ Issues

Legal Discrimination

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Intersex

Type

Commentary

Author(s)

Outright Team

Public Release Date

Sat, 12/21/2024 - 08:00

This past year brought the weaponization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) lives around the world to levels not seen before - numerous politicians in countries like the US, Ghana, Liberia, and Bulgaria leveraged attacks against our communities - especially against trans people - to win voters. Just as an example, more than 220 million dollars was spent in the US election on anti-trans advertising!

Yet, the weaponization of LGBTIQ lives cannot erase the significant strides our movement has made in 2024. From progress on marriage equality in Thailand to the decriminalization of same-sex relationships in Namibia and Dominica, there have been positive developments that deserve celebration.

At the same time, there has been a wave of anti-LGBTQ proposals and laws and the institutionalization of queerphobic sentiments across various countries in 2024. In Liberia, a bill was introduced to further criminalize same-sex sexual relations, extending punishment for "homosexuality" with up to life imprisonment for adult consensual sex. Bulgaria signed into law an amendment that bans the so-called "propaganda, promotion or incitement in any way, directly or indirectly, in the education system of ideas and views related to non-traditional sexual orientation and/or gender identity other than the biological one.” Unfortunately, even basic information, facts and even displaying a rainbow sign can be labeled “propaganda” under these types of laws.

The court system has been identified as crucial for fighting for human rights, at least where the judiciary has enough independence. In 2025, strategic litigation should continue to be a powerful tool for securing protections and abolishing discriminatory laws. Despite the 2024 wave of anti-LGBTQ laws and institutionalized queerphobic sentiments across various countries, the movement continued to make progress through collective action and self-determination.

More people than ever face humanitarian crisis right now. This means that more LGBTIQ people than ever are facing a crisis. The humanitarian needs of LGBTIQ people in Lebanon, Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine, and beyond are relentless and demand urgent action. Addressing these challenges requires breaking down silos between the LGBTIQ movement and allied movements, fostering collaboration to meet urgent needs while driving systemic and institutional change.

The fight for human rights is not just about policies and procedures; it requires a fundamental shift in values and a collective effort to meet the basic needs of every individual. This should include the urgent need for meaningful inclusion of LGBTIQ people in humanitarian action. Conversations about LGBTIQ inclusion have to be transformed into actual commitments and systematically advanced across diverse contexts.

Advocating Beyond Legal Rights

LGBTIQ people need more than equal rights in law. LGBTIQ people don’t have equal access to financial stability and economic inclusion. The call to action for addressing economic exclusion within the LGBTIQ movement extends beyond internal efforts and needs urgent engagement with those in positions of economic and political power. There are already good examples we can emulate as templates based on the different needs of our diverse regions around the world.

Resourcing the Movement's Frontline Defenders

The global LGBTIQ movement faces a critical need to generate revenue to match the relentless attacks on LGBTIQ human rights. The rise of conservative and populist regimes has been accompanied by intensified efforts to erode the rights and safety of LGBTIQ communities, which calls for a robust financial foundation to counter these threats. It would help us recognize and address the diverse needs within the movement for LGBTIQ rights, acknowledge the significance of elevating each other, and be mindful of the different needs of LBQ, intersex, and other intersecting movements in the quest for resources.

Increased funding to LGBTIQ organizations, including those unregistered and unable to register, as well as targeted funding to assist organizations in attaining legal registration where needed, will be a great starting point, as highlighted in Outright’s State of Global LGBTIQ Organizing report. While LGBTIQ organizations face significant challenges in generating revenue and sustaining themselves, international solidarity is key to ensure that we can keep the momentum of progress going and fight the backlash.

35 years of protecting LGBTIQ everywhere

35 years ago, Outright International was founded, marking the beginning of the organization’s commitment and resilience in advocating for better LGBTIQ lives everywhere. Since its inception in 1990, Outright International has been at the forefront of monumental strides in the global movement for LGBTIQ rights. Since 1990, 55 countries have decriminalized same-sex relationships, abandoning their colonial-era laws. While this is a sign of enormous progress, there is still a lot of work that remains ahead, but we can look to history as a source of much-needed optimism.

Many countries have taken steps to recognize legal genders, allow gender changes, and raise awareness around intersex issues. The United Nations gave an incredible boost to intersex activism, and the first-ever resolution on intersex issues was adopted at the Human Rights Council and seen as a milestone. The resolution specifically addresses discrimination, violence, and harmful practices against intersex people. It provides activists with a powerful tool to advocate for legal protections, remedies, and the realization of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for intersex people. This is cause for celebration.

As we look ahead to 2025, it is evident that the mandate for the LGBTIQ movement is clear: to unite as a global force to combat human rights abuses and push back against the forces that seek to erase our very existence. Whenever someone tries to divide us and claim that the L, the G, B, T, I, and Q don’t have that much in common, we need to stand together and not let the opposition divide us. The call to action for addressing economic exclusion and advocating beyond legal rights will be key in driving systemic and institutional change, fostering collaboration, and amplifying the voices of our global communities. As we embark on 2025, we build on the resilience of 2024 and draw inspiration from Outright International’s 35 years of work towards change, inclusion, and progress.