The new US administration has issued numerous executive orders and taken several concrete steps to undermine and eliminate federal (USAID, or the US Agency for International Development) support to the world’s most marginalized communities.  Almost overnight, a series of legally ambiguous actions curtailed most funding that supported the health, safety and security, economic empowerment, and advocacy for the rights of LGBTQI+ people globally.  

In response, the Rustin Fund has been in dialogue with our past and current grantee partners to assess the damage.  All our partners championing LGBTQI+ people in communities around the world have been impacted.  Some partners, including those providing life-saving health services, have seen most of their funding cut overnight.

One of our partners in Nigeria saw a 95% reduction in their funding inflow.  With one week’s notice, they had to lay off most of their staff, close their drop-in center, halt the distribution of HIV treatment medication, and advise clients to seek health (including mental health services) and the local public health hospital, where healthcare services are known to be delivered in a homo/transphobic way. Most of their clients have refused to seek those services, scared that their identities will be given to the authorities and that arrests may follow.  Similarly, a Ukrainian partner reported that two grants they expected from the US State Department are no longer moving forward, disrupting plans to continue their safe space and economic empowerment programs for LGBTQI+ individuals. The list of harms goes on….

The time is now for us all to act.  The Rustin Fund has secured funding to match up to $20,000 in support of urgent action grants to our existing global partners who were severely impacted by the US government’s unethical stoppage of life-saving aid. We will offer small grants (up to $5000) to support as many partners as possible in undertaking activities of their choosing. These urgent actions could take the form of bridge funding to allow partners to weather the storm, severance payments for those abruptly fired, or developing alternative fundraising strategies for greater sustainability. We know that our partners know what to do and simply need a little boost to make their visions a reality.

A few of our champions have already stepped up, with one donor increasing their tax-deductible support to the Rustin Fund three-fold, totaling $75,000 for the year.  Another is asking wedding guests to donate to the Rustin Fund in lieu of gifts.  Others have sent one-time donations in support.  

Will you join us in making a tax-deductible donation to stem the crisis in global LGBTIQ+ health and human rights that the virtual shuttering of USAID has created?

Pictures from Men for Health and Gender Justice in Botswana – one example of how their PEPFAR/USAID funded “drop-in center” was closed in late January “indefinitely.” Globally, hundreds of thousands of LGBTQI+ individuals are not getting their HIV prevention and treatment services, as well as general health services, mental health and psychosocial support services, and economic empowerment activities, among other programs.  

“The board of directors retains discretion over the use of funds.”