Dear John,
Across the globe, LGBTIQ people are under growing pressure. Political backlash, funding cuts, and shrinking freedoms threaten hard-won progress.
But here's what gives me hope: Change is possible.
In 1990, at least 115 countries criminalized same-sex relations. Today, it's around 65 countries. Just in the last few years, five Caribbean nations, plus Mauritius, Singapore, and Namibia have repealed colonial-era laws. Outright's partner ECADE in the Eastern Caribbean has led the way in their region.
I won't sugarcoat it. This is one of the hardest moments our movement has faced. The backlash is real and growing. In our recent report on the 2024 "super election year," we found that in more than 50 countries, anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric was a visible part of campaigns. Meanwhile, many LGBTIQ organizations have seen their budgets disappear almost overnight.
Yet across regions, activists continue to meet these challenges with courage, creativity, and determination. Together, we will not go backwards.
