Humanitarian Action Must Be LGBTIQ-Inclusive

Humanitarian crises are growing—but LGBTIQ people are still too often left out of the systems meant to protect them.

Across crises and emergencies, LGBTIQ people face greater risks of violence, discrimination, and exclusion from life-saving aid. Yet, humanitarian policies and programs often fail to recognize and respond to their needs. This exclusion is systemic, preventable, and puts lives at risk.

Some claim that LGBTIQ inclusion is "too hard," that there is not enough data to understand people's needs, or that hostile legal contexts make inclusion impossible. None of these are reasons to leave people behind. And new U.S. funding rules limit what organizations receiving U.S. foreign assistance can say and do to support trans, nonbinary, and intersex people. These restrictions make it harder for people to get the humanitarian assistance they need.

We demand humanitarian action that serves everyone.

Governments, donors, UN agencies, and humanitarian organizations must:

● Include LGBTIQ people in policies, assessments, and data.
● Fund inclusive programs and services.
● Partner with local LGBTIQ organizations.
● Address the specific risks LGBTIQ people face in crises.

Inclusion is not optional. It is essential to dignity, safety, and survival.

Add your name to demand humanitarian assistance that leaves no one behind.