In Bangladesh, where same-sex relations remain criminalised under a colonial-era law, the Noboprobhaat Foundation created a rare safe space for LGBTQ+ people in rural areas. The grassroots group provided HIV testing, job training for youth rejected by their families, free counselling, and legal support for cases of blackmail and eviction. These services, however, were severely disrupted after the Trump administration cut US funding for human rights programmes globally, ending more than a decade of financial support for LGBTQ+ initiatives. As a result, Noboprobhaat had to lay off half its staff and close its office, halting many core services.
Md. Shawon, a communications officer and youth activist with Noboprobhaat, noted that the organisation has tried to maintain minimal outreach through volunteers and emergency grants, but support levels are far below what they were before the cuts. The loss of funding has also affected HIV prevention and treatment services globally. PEPFAR, a US initiative launched in 2003 to fight HIV, stopped funding HIV prevention for high-risk groups under Trump, leaving gay, bisexual, and transgender people in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Indonesia without access to PrEP, condoms, lubricants, and essential HIV treatments. This has caused interruptions in care and increased infection rates, particularly in countries where LGBTQ+ people avoid public health facilities due to fear of persecution.
The funding crisis has also undermined programmes working to reform laws criminalising LGBTQ+ individuals in 65 countries. In the Pacific, a USAID-funded project promoting legal reform in Tuvalu, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea was paused, putting vulnerable communities at risk and stalling progress. Beyond the US cuts, other donor countries such as the Netherlands have signaled reductions in overseas development assistance, while private corporations have also withdrawn support following global campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Experts warn that this combination of government and corporate funding reductions represents an unprecedented crisis for LGBTQ+ rights.
Some organisations are attempting to fill the gap. Human Dignity Trust and Amnesty International New Zealand have continued decriminalisation work in the Pacific, and initiatives like GiveOut’s Urgent Response Fund and the Global Philanthropy Project have mobilised significant donations to sustain programs. Yet, declining government aid in many countries, coupled with growing funding for anti-LGBTQ+ conservative groups, threatens to force activists to abandon long-term work and focus narrowly on survival rather than progress.
Despite these challenges, activists remain committed. In rural Bangladesh, Shawon emphasised that fears for LGBTQ+ health and safety are high, but giving up is not an option. The collapse of funding in 2025 has exposed the fragility of global LGBTQ+ support networks and highlighted the need for sustained, reliable investment from governments and donors to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.
