Insights
Some Good Gay News
Type
Commentary
Author(s)
Publish Date
August 28, 2025
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During the early days of COVID-19, my family and I started watching a weekly web series launched by John Krasinski called Some Good News. In it, John and his wife Emily Blunt highlighted stories of people helping others during the pandemic. They also raised over $2 million to benefit several charities providing humanitarian relief. In a time full of loss and anxiety, Some Good News gave us a little shot of hope and joy every week.
At the same time, Outright International began documenting the devastating impact of the pandemic on LGBTIQ communities and organizations around the world, and launching a COVID Global LGBTIQ Emergency Fund that ultimately distributed $3.8 million to groups in 108 countries, reaching over 170,000 people. Through these efforts, we witnessed many inspiring examples of what I began to call “Some Good Gay News:” queer, trans, and intersex people — and our allies — stepping up to help each other and improve the lives of LGBTIQ people across the globe.
Today, we are once again watching an existential crisis unfold for LGBTIQ people, communities, and organizations around the world. We have seen authoritarian leaders gain and abuse their power, democratic norms and legal protections dissolve, and hateful rhetoric and dangerous attacks on the rights of LGBTIQ people proliferate in the U.S. and across borders. LGBTIQ organizations are being dramatically defunded as the U.S. government and other significant donors pull back — by our estimates, 30–40% of the annual funding for our global movement has already been lost. In this critical moment, we must summon all our courage, resources, and determination and fight for our freedoms, our democracy, and our rights.
But while we fight, we need Some Good Gay News! We can and are still making progress, holding the line, and finding moving and impactful ways to celebrate and support each other. We can draw strength and hope from stories of resilience, positive action, and joy throughout our global community, and from finding opportunities to help. Let’s get started:
- As former Outright International leaders Jessica Stern and Julie Dorf recently outlined in this insightful reflection, queer (and other) Americans can learn much from LGBTIQ activists resisting authoritarianism and protecting human rights and democracy in Hungary. When Orbán’s government banned Pride events in March, it was a blow to LGBTIQ activists and defenders of human rights and democracy throughout the country. Yet LGBTIQ groups and Pride organizers did not back down — over 300,000 people marched in Budapest Pride on June 28 in resistance, and queer leaders have successfully identified several ways to push back on government repression and build promising coalitions in solidarity with allies.
- Chances are, you know and love someone who has been subjected to harmful and abusive conversion practices that aim to force LGBTQ people to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Since 2019, Outright International and our partners in Africa and Latin America have documented the prevalence and impact of conversion practices; supported legislative bans; and educated healthcare providers, parent groups, and religious leaders. Earlier this year, we published a new guide for legislators, activists, and policymakers with clear, practical steps to draft effective laws against conversion practices. Now, we are launching a toolkit with the Psychological Society of South Africa to support mental health professionals working with survivors, particularly in Africa.
- In 2022, Outright International launched a Ukraine LGBTIQ Emergency Fund, which has distributed over $3.6 million to 40 LGBTIQ groups in Ukraine and a few neighboring countries. Supported by donors like the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, we have also worked closely with local partners to transform the humanitarian relief and recovery ecosystem to better reach and include LGBTIQ people. Last fall, we and our partners launched the LGBTIQ+ Communities Technical Working Group in coordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ukraine (the first time a group like this has been established in any country). In April, we hosted the Second National Forum on LGBTIQ+ Inclusion in Humanitarian Response in Ukraine and in June, we brought together the heads of all UN agencies in Ukraine to hear from 20 LGBTIQ NGOs from different regions. This UN Country Team approved all our recommendations and UN agencies in Ukraine committed to integrate an LGBTIQ component — with resources allocated — into their programs.
- Although many religious groups and leaders have caused deep and lasting harm for LGBTIQ people and communities around the world, the support and allyship of faith communities and leaders who stand for diversity, acceptance, and inclusion is profound. That’s why I so appreciate the Unitarian Universalist Association, whose delegates voted to affirm the Action of Immediate Witness “Funding Global LGBTIQ Freedom Amid Crisis: A Call for Immediate Action and Solidarity” at their General Assembly in June. Through this resolution, UU congregations can learn about the threats facing LGBTIQ people locally and globally, organize to uplift LGBTIQ communities, support organizations like Outright International and The Trevor Project, and reaffirm the dignity and humanity of all LGBTIQ people. May many more religious allies follow their lead to affirm their love, acceptance, and support of LGBTIQ people everywhere.
Have you noticed Some Good Gay News recently? I hope so — let’s recognize and celebrate our progress and resilience and keep pushing forward together. Meanwhile, let’s keep taking action: Use your platforms to amplify the voices, issues, and strengths of LGBTIQ people. Offer support to LGBTIQ colleagues, family, and friends so they know they are not alone. Challenge decisionmakers who promote anti-LGBTIQ policies. Attend a local march or a queer arts and culture event. Support local, national, and global LGBTIQ organizations— or check out Outright’s resources on how current funding cuts by the U.S. government and others are hurting our movement — and how you can take action.
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