Our new study finds that legal protections for LGBTI people have increased around the world. While there isn't a single pathway to full protections, the legal inclusion of sexual orientation generally begins with the decriminalization of homosexuality, followed by employment protections or broader nondiscrimination protections.

Full protections based on gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics most commonly begin by allowing gender marker changes and establishing a formal legal gender recognition process or implementing health care protections.

Pathways toward legal inclusion of sexual orientation protections worldwide

Williams Institute's Global LGBTI Seed Grant program fosters new empirical research focused on LGBTI populations in the least developed, low- and middle-income countries and amplifies the voices of researchers from those regions. In partnership with SAGE, the Institute offers additional grants for research and data collection specifically on LGBTI older adults (ages 50 and above) in those countries.

Researchers and scholars from 58 countries submitted 175 proposals on a range of topics, including intersex people, acceptance, discrimination, violence, mental health, and elder care. We are pleased to announce that five proposals have been selected for awards, including two projects focused on older adults.

Visit our website for full descriptions of each project.

This project investigates experiences of violence, mental health outcomes, and access to health care among LGBTQI persons in nine African countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Alex Muller, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, University of Cape Town/Charité Center for Global Health

This project aims to comprehensively analyze the status of intersex people in Serbia through an examination of health-statistical yearbooks from 2010 to 2018 provided by the Institute of Public Health. 

Kristian Ranđelović
Intersex and trans activist, Serbia

Through in-depth interviews, this research aims to explore the sociocultural factors that assist Indonesian parents in accepting their young transgender children.

Alegra Wolter
Physician and Advisory Board Chair, Suara Kita

Benjamin Hegarty
Medical anthropologist and senior researcher, UNSW Sydney

Surilena Hasen
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia

This project aims to provide empirical data on the prevalence of conversion therapy practices as a foundation for law advocacy by exploring the lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ survivors, the relative risks, and mental health outcomes. 

Viet (Mason) Trin
Chair, LGBTIQ+ Mental Health Network

This project aims to produce an economic profile of the grassroots transgender community in West Bengal, an eastern state in India, from the lens of economic empowerment. 

Raina Roy
Founding Director, Samabhabona

Sintu Bagui
Founder and Secretary, Kolkata Anandam for Equality and Justice

This project will examine kinship ties and caregiving roles among aging LGBTQI+ Mexicans living in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Arcelia Paz-Padilla
Postdoctoral Fellow, the University of Guadalajara

This project aims to gain a better understanding of the experiences and needs of older lesbians in Serbia by investigating the discrimination they face and measures that can be taken to break their isolation in society. 

Vera Kurtic
Sociologist, activist, researcher, and NGO consultant, Serbia

The Williams Institute is seeking an experienced director to lead the Institute’s educational programming for judges, lawyers, law students, and the public. The Director will also be responsible for running three of the Institute’s premier annual programs: the Williams Institute Moot Court Competition, the Dukeminier Awards Journal, and the Institute’s Annual Update Conference. After the second year in the position, the Director will teach a course at UCLA Law focused on sexual orientation, gender identity, and the law.

Deadline to apply: July 31, 2024

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law is an academic research institute dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy.