The Perfect Storm: the Closing Space for LGBT Civil Society In

The Perfect Storm

1 2 3 Executive summary Recommendations Introduction to donors • Research Goals • Methodology 4 5 6 Case studies Conclusion Acknowledgements

Kyrgyzstan: “First they threw Molotov cocktails...”

Indonesia: “We suddenly touched a bedrock of homophobia”

Kenya: “We try to engage everybody”

Hungary: “Not enough air to breathe for civil society”

7 About Global Philantropy Project Executive Summary

While the late 20th century saw a blossoming of civil coverage, has created an environment that appears to society organizations, the beginning of the 21st century foster homophobic violence. Kyrgyzstan’s small LGBT has been a period of upheaval. In response to both the non-governmental organization (NGO) sector has threat of terrorism and to growing populist pressure been repeatedly targeted by mob violence, including for democracy, transparency, and government the attempted firebombing of a community center accountability, states have used new laws and tactics and attacks on LGBT events by nationalist groups. to restrict freedom of association and freedom of expression. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender In Indonesia, where 119 LGBT organizations formerly (LGBT) organizations have always faced such barriers, thrived, a recent right-wing religious backlash has ranging from criminalization of same-sex sexuality, sparked a homophobic media frenzy. Since January to refusal of the right to register organizations or 2016, many leading politicians have made public hold public events, to the shutdown of websites.1 In statements decrying homosexuality, and UN agencies recent years, some countries have also ratified have been instructed by authorities to cease funding new laws that explicitly prohibit groups engaged in for LGBT organizations. “LGBT propaganda.” In other countries, politicians have mobilized resurgent nationalism by publicly Of the four countries examined in this report, Kenya scapegoating LGBT groups as representing “foreign may provide the most hopeful case study. Here, broad values.” These overlapping trends have created a government restrictions on all civil society organizations, “perfect storm” for LGBT civil society organizations including those accused of links to terrorism and others caught in simultaneous waves of political pressure. that aim to hold the national leadership accountable to human rights standards, have also caught LGBT This report examines how these forces are affecting organizations in their web. At the same time, Kenyan LGBT groups in four countries: Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, advocates are effectively pushing back against these Hungary, and Kenya. The report also highlights these restrictions, using a combination of litigation, alliance- groups’ resilience, and how many have found ways to building, innovative media, and advocacy strategies to survive and thrive in restrictive and often threatening form new alliances and widen the space for their work. environments. In Hungary, an assertive right-wing government has Kyrgyzstan has been a seat of civil society organizations, moved to sweepingly centralize power, shut down including LGBT groups, for the Central Asian region. But independent organizations working on a range of in the past three years, the government has moved to issues, and to specifically target foreign funding for civil tighten civil society space with new Russian-inspired society. In this context, LGBT groups have reacted as legislation. At the same time, the tabling of an “LGBT part of broader resistance across civil society, forging propaganda” bill, and related sensationalized media new alliances and employing a range of tactics to 1 The term “LGBT” is used here for purposes of shorthand and convenience, and was chosen weather the storm. in consultation with GPP members who reviewed this report. We remind readers that the term LGBT is a product of the English language and of specific historical experiences. In the four countries studied here, and in other countries as well, people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities use a variety of other terms to describe themselves. Additionally, while GPP’s mission includes the aim of increased funding to Intersex organizing, we have chosen to use LGBT rather than LGBTI in this report because our case studies do not reflect significant research or information about impacts on Intersex organizations or individuals. 4 Recommendation to donors

The following recommendations are based on feedback from report interviewees.

It is essential to support LGBT NGOs Identify low-key, quiet strategies to during crises, and to ensure inclusion fund LGBT groups working within of LGBT NGOs in all wider strategies to restricted spaces. resist closing civil society space. Reduce complicated grant application Support organizations monitoring and reporting procedures for those general restrictions on freedom of organizations responding to a crisis. association and expression to also explicitly monitor laws and policies Utilize flexible funding mechanisms, targeting LGBT groups, as these which enable groups to cover a range restrictions on LGBT groups may be of operational costs. early indicators of closing space. Fund capacity-building, including policy Support alliance-building across advocacy skills. diverse civil society sectors, to enable International development or health effective and unified civil society aid conditionality should be used response when crackdowns occur. carefully, on a country-by-country Support grantees in attending regional basis and in consultation with local and international gatherings to activists. support “safe space” for strategizing. Stay connected to your grantees. Recognize that resurgent nationalism Your empathy and support are greatly may be an indicator of looming efforts appreciated when grantees are under to close space for civil society, including pressure. LGBT groups.

5 Introduction

The 21st century has not been an easy one for global civil democratic reform and civil society empowerment.”3 society overall. As a paper published jointly by Ariadne, This began to change after 2001, in part due to the the European Foundation Centre, and the International U.S-led global response to terrorism. In both relatively Human Rights Funders Group describes, while civil open societies as well as in more restrictive countries, society has long been restricted in many countries, the regulations aiming to combat global money laundering new millennium has brought an increase in attacks by and terrorist financing restricted the ability of some governments and non-state actors. These have included civil society organizations to receive the foreign funding a growing number of laws that restrict freedom of needed to operate.4 As the Women Peacemakers expression and assembly, restrictions on the overseas Program notes, banks’ risk-averse behavior may financing of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), mean that counterterrorism-financing restrictions increased government surveillance of NGOs, and disproportionately affect small organizations, such increasing attacks on, even disappearances of, human as women’s groups and LGBT groups, which lack the rights defenders.2 These restrictive trends are often leverage to negotiate with their banks.5 referred to as the “closing space” for civil society. During the same period, the anxiety among leaders Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups of authoritarian states about populist and pro- are no strangers to restrictions on their advocacy, both democracy movements, including the 2003 “Color in law and in practice. They have also frequently faced Revolutions,” became a second driver of closing global threats and intimidation by state and private actors, space for civil society. Between 2004-10, more than accompanied by violence. However, closing space for civil fifty countries enacted new measures restricting NGO society overall has had some specific impacts on LGBT registration, activities, demonstrations and events, groups. and public communications.6

The 2010 “Arab Awakening” was followed again by more The following section provides some background on than ninety new laws.7 In some countries, such as China, the global trend towards closing civil society space, and Egypt, and others, authorities have targeted organizations explores how other factors have combined with that trend and individual human rights activists through detentions, to create a “perfect storm,” heightening the risk to LGBT public denunciations in the media, and disappearances organizations and advocates. Despite the challenges of lawyers and other human rights defenders.8 they face, LGBT groups in these four countries are finding One particular challenge for civil society groups has ways to weather the storm and continue their work.

3 The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, “A mapping of existing initiatives to address legal Closing space for civil society in the early 21st century constraints on foreign funding of civil society” (August 20, 2014), accessed April 14, 2016, www.icnl.org/news/2014/20-Aug.html As a report from the International Center for Non- 4 Ariadne, EFC and IHRFG, “Briefing note for funders’ workshop on the disabling environment for civil society.” Profit Law describes, the period from approximately 5 Women Peacemakers Program, “Counterterrorism measures and their effects on the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda: Policy brief,” accessed on April 14, 2016, 1990-2000 was a period of “remarkable expansion of www.womenpeacemakersprogram.org/resources. 6 International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, “A mapping of existing initiatives.” 7 Douglas Rutzen, “Aid barriers and the rise of philanthropic protectionism,” International Journal of Not-for-profit Law 17/1 (March 2015): 8. 8 Carmen Malena, Improving the measurement of civic space (London: Transparency and Accounta- 2 Ariadne, European Foundation Centre (EFC), and International Human Rights Funders Group bility Initiative, May 29, 2015), accessed April 14, 2016, (IHRFG), “Briefing note for funders’ workshop on the disabling environment for civil society: June 2015.” www.transparency-initiative.org/reports/report-launch-improving-the-measurement-of-civic-space. 6 been the rise of “foreign agent” laws. Russia’s “foreign In the Philippines, Turkey, and other countries, LGBT agent” law, on which the laws of a growing number of venues have been raided and individuals charged under countries has been based, requires NGOs that receive protection of public morality provisions.13 In Eastern foreign funding and engage in advocacy to register Europe and Russia, the right to have peaceful Pride themselves as “foreign agents,” a term that in Russia marches has frequently been refused, and litigated in strongly connotes cold-war era espionage. Tax-exempt the European Court of Human Rights.14 grants from foreign organizations may only be made to While these restrictions have been longstanding, Russian citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) observers such as the U.N. Special Rapporteur on if the donor is on a government-approved list, a list the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of that now excludes private foundations.9 Government association have observed a worsening climate in representatives are also permitted to attend all CSO recent years. In his report on freedom of assembly, the events, including internal strategy sessions.10 The Special Rapporteur observed that recent clampdowns complex history of U.S. government financing for NGOs on the right to freedom of assembly place some that opposed socialism in some countries has been groups at higher risk, such as “persons with disabilities; referenced by Russian and other government critics youth, including children; women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, as a reason why all foreign aid from the Global North transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people,” and to civil society in the Global South should be seen as others.15 He cited the examples of draft homosexuality suspect.11 propaganda laws in Ukraine, a Russian ban on gay While these restrictions have affected all civil society in pride parades, and laws in Nigeria and Uganda further the countries where they have been put in place, there criminalizing not only homosexuality but organizations are specific dimensions of closing civil society space that “promote” homosexuality, as some examples of that have affected LGBT groups. the increasing use of sexual orientation and gender identity as “a basis for explicit discrimination” in civil Homophobic legislation and related violence and political rights.16 For organizations founded and led by LGBT people, restrictions on operations, funding, assembly, and In two of the most prominent examples of this trend, public expression have long been a fact of life. Russia and Uganda have specifically targeted LGBT Many states arbitrarily refuse legal registration organizations using a combination of “foreign agent” and public assembly rights to LGBT organizations laws to target any NGOs that receive international aid, (for instance, Pride marches, film festivals, and and “homosexuality propaganda” laws to specifically celebrations of International Day Against Homophobia restrict LGBT meetings and communications.17 In these and Transphobia, among others). Restrictions on two countries, crackdowns on LGBT groups were early banking, shutdowns of LGBT websites that share HIV indicators of coming crackdowns on broader civil society. information as “pornography,” and harassment of both groups and individual activists have been part of the Assembly, Association and Expression”, International Commission of Jurists SOGI Casebook, daily experience of grassroots LGBT groups in many accessed April 3, 2016, www.icj.org/sogi-casebook-introduction/chapter-four-freedom-of- assembly-association-and-expression/. 12 countries. 13 OutRight Action International, Human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and homosexuality in the Philippines, (New York: October 2012), accessed April 15, 2016, www.outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/philippines_report.pdf; Sedef Çakmak, “No 9 Rutzen, “Aid barriers,” 18. living on land or in air: Discourses of public morality and human rights violations of transgender 10 Rutzen, “Aid barriers,” 22. individuals in Turkey,” Turkish Policy Quarterly 11/4 (2013); accessed April 15, 2016, http://turkish- policy.com/Files/ArticlePDF/no-living-on-land-or-in-air-discourse-of-public-morality-and-hu- 11 “U.S. Gvt. Channels Millions Through National Endowment for Democracy to Fund Anti-Lavalas man-rights-violations-of-transgender-individuals-in-turkey-winter-2013-en.pdf. Groups in Haiti,” Democracy Now! (January 23, 2006), accessed April 13, 2016, www.democracynow.org/2006/1/23/u_s_gvt_channels_millions_through; Ben A. Franklin, 14 Human Rights Watch, “Russia: European court rules gay pride ban unlawful,” (October 21, “Democracy project facing new criticisms,” New York Times (December 4, 1985), accessed April 13, 2010), accessed April 15, 2016, www.hrw.org/news/2010/10/21/russia-european-court-rules- 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/04/us/democracy-project-facing-new-criticisms.html gay-pride-ban-unlawful 12 Human Rights Watch, Restrictions on AIDS Activists in China (New York: June 2005), accessed 15 United Nations General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom April 3, 2016, https://www.hrw.org/reports/2005/china0605/china0605.pdf; Asia Catalyst, of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai (Human Rights Council twenty-sixth session, Restrictions on AIDS NGOs in Asia (2009), accessed April 15, 2016, www.asiacatalyst.org/ A/HRC/26/29; Geneva, April 14, 2014): para. 9.. wp-content/uploads/2014/09/restrictionsAIDSngos1209-1.pdf; Allison Jernow, “The backlash?” 16 United Nations General Assembly, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom IntLawGrrls blog (June 21, 2012), accessed April 3, 2016, www.intlawgrrls.com/2012/06/backlash. of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai: para. 27. html; Allison Jernow, “The ghost of Torkel Opsahl,” Jurist (December 3, 2012), accessed April 3, 2016, www.jurist.org/hotline/2012/12/allison-jernow-russia-discrimination.php; “Freedom of 17 Rutzen, “Aid barriers and the rise of philanthropic protectionism,” 13.

7 The early 21st century in Russia was marked by century, and impose punishments of fourteen years’ increasing crackdowns on dissent, including specific imprisonment and corporal punishment.22 However, targeting of feminist and LGBT advocates, and the public in February 2014, Uganda enacted an even more revival of discourses promoting “traditional values.”18 draconian anti-homosexuality bill, with provisions Policies restricting “promotion of homosexuality imposing a five to seven year sentence for “promotion” among minors” were enacted in a number of Russian of homosexuality. The bill rode a rising tide of national regions early in the 21st century. After a suit to the homophobia; it had first been proposed in 2009, and Constitutional Court which aimed to overturn Ryazan had been promoted by Christian religious leaders. region’s ban on “homosexual propaganda” was In 2010, a national publication called Rolling Stone, dismissed, the laws spread to the national level.19 published photographs of 100 people it said were 2015-16 saw Russia’s conviction of Sergey Alekseenko homosexuals with the title “Hang Them.”23 of Maximum, an NGO, for “propaganda among minors,” Implementation of the law has been sweeping, with a fine of 100,000 rubles. Authorities also engaged including a July 2014 ruling by the Uganda High Court in aggressive attacks on national LGBT websites, against four activists who sued the ethics and integrity shutting down the front page of “Children-404,” an minister for shutting down a February 2014 workshop organization providing services for LGBT youth.20 on LGBT rights for “promoting” or “inciting” same-sex Within the context of closing civil society space, this acts; and a police raid on a U.S.-funded HIV research targeting of LGBT organizations has been linked to center under suspicion of “recruiting homosexuals.”24 an increase in violent attacks on LGBT people. As two Domestic and international rights advocates have Russian LGBT NGOs noted in a joint submission to a also documented an uptick in violent incidents linked UN human rights mechanism, to implementation of the law and the targeting of LGBT organizations for “propaganda.” These include Since the law banning so-called “propaganda of “occasional resort to threats, harassment, physical homosexuality”… has been adopted, the number violence and heavy-handed bureaucratic interference of attacks against the members of the LGBT to impede the registration and operations of NGOs.”25 community has grown…. The attackers justify their Here too, violence by non-state actors appears to be crimes. They say that the victim was gay, or the facilitated by the laws and “by political leaders inciting attack was caused by the protection of morals, violence through public statements.” Transgender children, and the struggle against the violation of people often bear the brunt of this violence.26 law on “propaganda.”21 Some observers have pointed to the crackdown on In the Russian context, the targeting of LGBT groups LGBT groups as a precursor to a subsequent proposed presaged more sweeping crackdowns on civil society, NGO bill that would restrict all civil society organizations. which were then used to target LGBT activists again. In this case, Ugandan authorities’ targeting of LGBT Uganda’s laws criminalizing “carnal knowledge against groups also appears to have been a “canary in the the order of nature” date to the early twentieth

22 The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law and Human Rights Aware- ness and Promotion Forum, Protecting morals by dehumanizing suspected LGBTI persons? A 18 Valery Sozayev, “Russia in the 21st century: A culture war caused by traditionalist revanchism,” critique of the enforcement of the laws criminalizing same-sex conduct in Uganda, (October The situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Russian federation (Last 2013), accessed April 15, 2016, http://hrapf.org/publications/research-papers/. three months 2011- First half 2012), Russian LGBT Network (2012), accessed April 15, 2016, http://civilrightsdefenders.org/files/Russian-Federation-LGBT-situation.pdf. “ 23 Xan Rice, “Ugandan paper calls for gay people to be hanged,” The Guardian, (October 21, 2010), accessed April 15, 2016, 19 Russian court: Ban of ‘gay propaganda to minors’ is constitutional,” UK Gay News, (March 31, www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/21/ugandan-paper-gay-people-hanged. 2010), accessed April 15, 2016, www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/10/Mar/3101.htm. 24 Marie Harf, “Press statement: Raid on the Makerere University Walter Reed Project by Ugan- 20 “LGBT activist from Murmansk was found guilty of ‘propaganda of homosexuality,’” Russian dan Authorities,” (April 4, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, LGBT Network, accessed February 4, 2016, https://LGBTnet.ru/en/content/LGBT-activist-mur- www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/04/224431.htm. mansk-was-found-guilty-propaganda-homosexuality; “Altai territory court has blocked a support resource for LGBT teenagers, ‘Children-404’,” Russian LGBT Network, accessed February 25 Human Rights Watch, Curtailing criticism: Intimidation and obstruction of civil society in Ugan- 4, 2016, www.LGBTnet.org/en/content/altai-territory-court-has-blocked-support-resource-LG- da (New York, 2012), accessed April 15, 2016, www.hrw.org/report/2012/08/21/curtailing-criti- BT-teenagers-children-404 cism/intimidation-and-obstruction-civil-society-uganda. 21 Coming Out, Transgender Legal Defense Project (Rainbow Foundation), and Russian LGBT 26 African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR) and Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), Network, Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the Russian Violence based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa (Pretoria, Federation: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues, Alternative Report (Submitted for the 2013), accessed April 15, 2016, http://amsher.org/violence-based-on-perceived-or-real-sexu- 111 session of the Human Rights Committee, Geneva: 7 July 2014): 4. al-orientation-and-gender-identity-in-africa/. 8 coal mine,” presaging closing of civil society space for In a few cases, bold litigation combined with regional other CSOs as well. information-sharing has been rewarded with significant policy shifts. As an example of how wins in one country Resurgent nationalism and “tradition” may influence those in another country in the same A third factor that emerges in the four countries region, in November 2014, Botswana’s courts found examined in this report is the rise of nationalism, that the refusal to register an LGBT group, LEGABIBO, and its related scapegoating of homosexuality as a was “grossly unreasonable.” The Botswana Court “foreign” phenomenon. of Appeals cited Kenya’s court decision to allow registration by the National Gay and Lesbian Human While globalization has created powerful flows of Rights Commission, as well as Botswana’s own national finance, goods, ideas, and people that link disparate submissions to the Universal Periodic Review to the UN parts of the world, resurgent nationalism in many Human Rights Council.27 countries has also sparked resistance to globalization. Citing a need to preserve national integrity and culture, Funding these strategies remains a challenge, however. political leaders in diverse religious and cultural contexts Activists who spoke to GPP cited burdensome grant are publicly challenging international human rights application and reporting processes, limited sources norms, calling for a return to “traditional values,” and of funding, and lack of capacity-building opportunities upholding binary gender norms and heterosexuality as as serious concerns that hamper their ability to resist emblems of national pride. the political pressures they face.

In all four of the countries studied for this report, LGBT This is consistent with findings from Funders for LGBTQ activists reported political or even physical threats in Issues, whose 2010 report called current funding at the name of nationalism, whether it was the disruption that time “dangerously insufficient.”28 Six years later, of private events by nationalist thugs, or the public LGBT groups facing the perfect storm of homophobic denunciation of homosexuality by senior government laws and closing civil society space say they must have officials as “foreign” to domestic traditions. Resurgent continued support from their donors, and the support nationalism, bringing with it culture wars and religious of new donors, in order to survive. fundamentalism, can create added tensions that affect broader civil society space.

Resilience and survival In this challenging context, the activists interviewed for this report and their allies continue to mobilize. They describe a variety of tactics to resist the political pressure, including litigation, media work, grassroots mobilization, and dialogue with religious and community leaders.

CSO alliance-building emerges as one of the primary tactics LGBT groups use to push back on closing civil society space in all four countries. Connections with other civil society sectors in the same country, and with regional and international LGBT NGOs and networks, have helped to “build the local movement, and leverage engagement with regional and international forces,” says 27 Thuto Rammoge et al v. the Attorney General of Botswana (2016), Court of Appeal Civil Jessica Stern of OutRight International. Appeal CACGB-128-14, High Court Civil Case number MAHGB-000175-13 28 Funders for LGBTQ Issues, A global gaze: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex grantmaking in the global south and east 2010 (New York: 2011), accessed April 15, 2016, www.lgbtfunders.org/files/A_Global_Gaze_2010.pdf.

9 Research Goals

GPP recognizes that civil society organizations around the world are increasingly facing restrictions and limitations which manifest in many different ways: restrictive NGO laws, limits on funding sources, distorted criminal charges, arbitrary raids and audits of organizations, restrictions to freedom of assembly, association and expression. In addition, individual community members and activists are often subjected to intimidation and harassment. This global trend has shown specific targeting of and acute impacts on LGBT activists and organizations. While LGBT activists are anecdotally reporting that they are operating in increasingly restrictive environments, there has been little documentation of these experiences. The aim of this study is to begin to develop an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing LGBT activists, and how these activists are seeking to counter legal restrictions. Additionally, GPP intends to provide guidance and share educational resources for donors aiming to support these efforts.

10 Transgender and intersex groups This report did not identify many instances of shutdown or specific targeting of transgender or intersex groups in Methodology the four countries studied. However, that should not be taken as evidence that such shutdowns do not occur.

Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) has noted the relatively small number and lower visibility of transgender- This report was researched and written led organizations. Programs to serve29 and represent the by a consultant, Meg Davis, over 15 days specific concerns of transgender and intersex people are during March-April 2016. often subsumed in larger organizations working on sexual orientation and gender identity issues. A report by GATE A shortlist of countries was developed based on initial and Open Society Foundations documents numerous desk research, and the four focus countries were obstacles to establishing, operating, and adequately identified by GPP in consultation with donor members. financing transgender and intersex-led organizations. The countries were selected to represent current trends Similarly, transgender advocates have argued that in the four regions of Africa, Asia, Central Asia, and Europe; limited funding for transgender-led work has hampered time constraints meant that other regions could not be their ability to advocate and participate in national and covered in this report. While the experience of LGBT international governance30. organizations globally is diverse, shaped by the unique history and culture of each country, these four countries The violence documented in this report often erupts during were seen as representing some commonalities at public debates over homophobic legislation, which may the global level. They also demonstrate some of the also create heightened risks for transgender advocates. diversity of experience among countries with differing Several interviewees for this report pointed to specific religious and cultural traditions, as well as the differences and well-publicized instances of abuse of transgender between emerging democracies and states with more community members and advocates, including by entrenched democratic institutions. the police, and noted that such attacks heighten The desk review included study of published research marginalization, driving advocates underground.31 The and reports by UN agencies, civil society and donors, research conducted for this report did not find instances and of media reports. A short list of 30 interviewees was of attacks on intersex groups or individuals linked to closing identified by the researcher in consultation with GPP civil society space. members, with others added based on introductions This report indicates that more in-depth research is made by early interviewees. 26 individuals contributed needed to better document how closing civil society to the research through email or providing advice, 19 of space may specifically affect transgender and intersex whom agreed to be interviewed, including activists from advocates and their organizations, and all of LGBTI society. the four countries, international human rights experts, UNAIDS staff, and scholars. A short list of open-ended questions was shared with each interviewee in advance, and the unstructured interviews were conducted through videoconference or telephone calls in English.

The methodology had limitations, including time 29 Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) and Open Society Foundations, Advancing Trans* Movements Worldwide: Lessons from a dialogue between funders and activists working on gender diversity (2014), accessed April 3, 2016, http://transactivists.org/2014/09/16/advancing-trans- constraints that limited the number of interviews and movements-worldwide-a-meeting-for-funders-and-activists-working-on-gender-diversity/ quantity of desk research; the absence of field visits; 30 IRGT: A Global Network of Trans Women and HIV, Most impacted, least served: Ensuring the meaningful engagement of transgender people in Global Fund processes. 2016. language differences; and challenges in reaching key 31 Asia Catalyst, Beijing Zuoyou, and Shanghai CSW & MSM Center, My life is too dark to see the light: A survey of the living conditions of transgender female sex workers in Beijing and Shanghai activists while they coped with urgent crises. (New York: January 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, http://asiacatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Asia-Catalyst-TG-SW-Report.pdf. 11 “First they threw Molotov cocktails…” Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has been a seat of civil society organizations, including LGBT groups, for the Central Asian region. But in the past three years, the government has moved to tighten civil society space with new Russian-inspired legislation. At the same time, the tabling of an “LGBT propaganda” bill, and related Photo by Labrys sensationalized media coverage, has created an environment that appears Kyrgyzstan and spreading chaos Advocacy was done in coalition: to foster homophobic violence. across Central Asia and parts of LGBT groups worked with the Anti- China.33 Discrimination Coalition, a network In 2013, members of Parliament tabled of civil rights groups, to collect nearly a “foreign agents” bill, inspired by the In this climate of increased tension and 800 signatures on an open appeal law in Russia. It would mandate that any scrutiny of civil society organizations, urging legislators to reject the “LGBT organization receiving foreign funding in 2014-15, the Kyrgyzstan parliament propaganda” bill. The US embassy, and engaging in “political activity” would also moved a bill on “LGBT the Organization for Security and be required to register as a “foreign propaganda” through two readings Cooperation in Europe and the Office agent.” In Kyrgyzstan, a bill must have (see sidebar). A third reading is still of the High Commissioner for Human three parliamentary readings before pending. The proposed bill, closely Rights also openly opposed the bill.35 being sent to the president for signing. based on Russian laws, would amend However, the UN official suggested In May 2015, the bill passed its first existing laws, including the Criminal that quiet advocacy, including bringing reading. Said a UN official speaking on Code, Administrative Code, and other a group of members of Parliament to condition of anonymity as advocacy laws, to criminalize “propaganda for Geneva for sensitization, had been the is ongoing, “(The foreign agents bill) is non-traditional sexual relationships,” most effective: a card they are playing all the time-- specifically “distribution of information they pull it out and put it away again.” aimed at formation of a positive attitude If you shout loudly, you just bring In May 2014, the Justice Ministry towards same sex sexual relationships more attention. Society supports also proposed a bill that would “ban” through mass media.” Though the these kinds of bills. We agreed to unregistered NGOs, though this was Minister of Justice, among others, work with partners one by one, withdrawn in November.32 In a March raised concerns that both the foreign explaining to them why [the bill] is 2014 interview, President Atambaev agents law and “LGBT propaganda” not good. explicitly linked NGOs to national law “violated human rights,” and the security threats: members of Parliament who initiated The UN official suggested the “LGBT the bill have since been voted out of propaganda” bill may have been a Some CSOs do not care about how office, both these bills could be ratified response to media coverage of a they get income, whose orders to in 2016.34 2014 report by Human Rights Watch fulfill, which kind of work to execute… on police violence against gay men There are forces interested in Kyrgyzstan, which had generated 33 Rutzen, “Aid barriers and the rise of philanthropic protec- in destabilizing the situation in tionism,” 27. intense media coverage, social media 34 Catherine Putz, “Kyrgyz anti-gay propaganda law moves forward,” The Diplomat (June 26, 2015), accessed April 32 Human Rights Watch, “Kyrgyzstan,” World Report 2015 15, 2016, http://thediplomat.com/2015/06/kyrgyz-an- (New York, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016 ti-gay-propaganda-law-moves-forward/ 35 Human Rights Watch, “Kyrgyzstan.” 12 threats against a Kyrgyz LGBT activist, and a fatwa against same-sex relations by the national acting grand mufti.36

Several people who spoke to GPP stated that sensationalized media coverage during the public debate over the “LGBT propaganda” bill had created a climate that fostered homophobic and transphobic violence. Violence was already common: the 2014 Human Rights Watch report had already documented widespread violence against LGBT people in Kyrgyzstan, often by police, and including “extortion, ill-treatment, and sexual violence such as rape, including with external objects.”37 However, in the wake of the proposed bill, the violence began to also target LGBT groups.

In 2015, two attacks on Labrys, an LGBT Photo by Labrys community center, followed the tabling of the “LGBT propaganda” bill. The first attack took place on April 3, 2015, when transgender women were stripped came, they took us not as victims, [it] the office of Labrys was attacked with and photographed in the nude by the was like we were the perpetrators. Molotov cocktails (see photograph). police, who shared the photographs on The police took five of the attackers Speaking to GPP, Sanjar Kurmanov of social media. Labrys helped the victims and 20 of the people celebrating Labrys remembered: to sue the police for damages, and won judgments of US$1000 in one case IDAHOT to the police station, locking Luckily no one was there. One of the and approximately US$800 in another. both attackers and victims in the same bottles was on the top of the house, Mihra Rittmann, a Human Rights Watch detention room for five hours. but did not burn. God saved us. The researcher on Kyrgyzstan who was We were waiting for the head of others fell in the yard, it was not a banned from the country, observes, the department for five hours. We big fire. “There is certainly little trust in the were not able to buy food or water. LGBT community about being treated Kurmanov noted that the attempted It was like we were suspects. The 5 fairly by law enforcement across firebombing had followed a series of [attackers] were trying to photograph Kyrgyzstan.” incidences of verbal abuse, including us. When we wrote what happened… Police mishandling of a second attack egg throwing at their office. The group one of the police members shared on Labrys the following month only had owned and otherwise safely our addresses with [the attackers]. reinforced this mistrust. In May 2015, a occupied the building for five years. When we noticed that, we started to private celebration of the International “This was our own house, we bought it. shout that you don’t have to do this. Day Against Homophobia and We didn’t expect that in one day we’d [The police] denied [that they had Transphobia (also known as IDAHOT, (suddenly) have to move from there.” done] it. May 17th) organized by Labrys in a Given the history of police violence restaurant for 20 supporters was and harassment of LGBT people in Then these 5 members of the disrupted when approximately 30 Kyrgyzstan, Labrys was reluctant to nationalist groups and the police members of two nationalist groups report the attack to the police. To were sharing food together. We attacked the group. Kurmanov said, explain this reluctance, Kurmanov were asking them to please let described two cases in which Suddenly they came to us and us buy something, we want to eat started to knock on the door, saying and drink and use the bathroom. 36 “Kyrgyz mufti issues fatwa against gays, challenges HRW,” They allowed us after 2 hours. Radio Free Europe (January 30, 2014), accessed April 3, that we are illegal and we have to 2016, http://www.rferl.org/content/kyrgyzstan-mufti-gay-fat- Some of [our members] were HIV- wa/25247925.html leave this place or they will burn positive, we asked for drugs, and 37 “Kyrgyzstan: Police abuse, extortion of gay men,” Human everything, they will kill us.... Then we Rights Watch (January 28, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, they would not allow us [to have the www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/28/kyrgyzstan-police-abuse- called the police. When the police extortion-gay-men 13 medicines]…. Around midnight we were able to leave the place.

Labrys is pursuing complaints against the police in court, and continues its work. Despite all it has been through, The Law of the Kyrgyz Republic the group opened a new community center in March 2016. Says Rittmann, “On amendments to some legislative acts of the Kyrgyz Republic” - Unofficial translation “LGBT activists who have continued Article 1 - Make amendments to the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (State paper their work have shown how courageous of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, 1998, #7) to add to: they are. They play a really important Criminal code the article 262-2: role in raising awareness and informing the international community.” “Article 262-2. Propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships through mass media Propaganda of the non traditional sexual relationship, i.e. distribution of information While the attacks were not explicitly aimed at formation of a positive attitude towards same sex sexual relationship through linked to the government’s efforts to mass media including internet directed at minors is held liable to a fine of 30-60 close space for civil society, or the calculated rates or imprisonment for 6-12 months. tabling of the “LGBT propaganda” bill, some interviewees saw the attacks as Article 2 - Make amendments to the Administrative Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (State the indirect result of the government’s paper of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, 1999, #2) scapegoating of civil society and related 1. Amend the Code with the article 66-12: media coverage of the bill. In this volatile “Article 66-12. Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationship context, with bilateral and multilateral Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationship aimed at formation of non- donors preparing to transition out of traditional orientation, attractiveness of non traditional sexual relationship or support for Kyrgyzstan since it has been imposition of information fostering non-traditional sexual relationship, if such reclassified as a lower-middle-income information does not contain characteristics that foresee criminal sanctions is country, advocates underscored held liable to an administrative fine: physical persons 8-15 rates, legal entities 100- the critical need for continued donor 300 calculated rates. support for LGBT advocates. Rittmann noted that given similar struggles Notes. Non traditional sexual relationship mean same sex sexual relationships. are taking place over closing civil society space and homophobic laws 1. Para 3 of the clause 1 part 1 of the article 556-1 after “66-11” to add “66-12” Article 3 - Make amendments to the the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On peaceful in neighboring countries, regional assembly” networking that incorporates Russian (Newspaper “Erkin-Too dd May 29, 2012, #47) to add the following: LGBT activists is more important than Part 2 of the article 15 to be added clause 5) ever: “Their experiences are different, “5) Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” but they share a history and language, and there is a lot [Russian activists] Article 4 - Make amendments to the the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On mass media” have lived through, including advocacy (Newspaper “Erkin-Too dd August 4, 1992,#99) to add the following: and response, that would be beneficial Part 1 of the article 23 to add clause) for Central Asian groups to hear about.” “N) Propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”

Kurmanov expressed concerns about Article 5 the looming loss of bilateral and 1. The law enters into force on date of publication international aid, now that Kyrgyzstan 2. The government of the Kyrgyz Republic has to align the normative acts in is reclassified as a lower-middle- accordance with le Law in a time period of three months. income country. He pointed to plans President of the Kyrgyz Republic by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to transition out of financing the health response in 2018, and plans by the Netherlands to exit in 2020. “We need more donors in Kyrgyzstan because the situation is not good, year by year,” he says. “We don’t want this, we want to fight.”

14 restricted LGBT meetings, including warfare,” and said it was a form of shutting down the Fourth Conference proxy warfare aimed at undermining “We suddenly 40 of ILGA Asia in March 2010; and the the Indonesian state. Indonesia’s climate for activists in the provinces former Information and Communications touched a has long been challenging. But for LGBT Minister Tifatul Sembiring tweeted that groups in the capital, Jakarta, the the Prophet called for homosexuals to be space for advocacy, service delivery, put to death, for which he was accused bedrock of and community mobilization has been of hate speech.41 relatively open. This is reflective of the relatively open space for civil society Many other public attacks focused on homophobia” restricting freedom of expression. The as a whole: current President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, Information and Communication Ministry Indonesia was a populist candidate who rode into blocked 477 online sites with LGBT related office on a wave of reformist and anti- content, using its sweeping powers to In January 2016, international news corruption sentiment. restrict public sexual behavior of any outlets reported a series of rapidly kind as granted by the 2006 Bill Against escalating homophobic statements In this context, the early 2016 attacks Pornography and Pornographic Acts. The by senior government officials. The on LGBT groups seemed all the more Indonesian Broadcasting Commission Indonesian authorities also directly astonishing for their suddenness and prohibited men dressing or acting 42 pressured foreign funders of LGBT ferocity. Activists and observers who effeminately on national TV. Days groups to cease this funding. These spoke to GPP agreed that they had later, the Parliamentary Commission verbal attacks did not take place in a not foreseen the attacks. “We suddenly for Defense, Foreign Affairs and climate of closing civil society space for all touched a bedrock of huge homophobia Information, recommended “measures NGOs, which makes Indonesia’s climate coming up to the surface,” said one for the [Indonesian Broadcasting different from that of Kyrgyzstan. In UN official who spoke on condition of Commission] to tighten controls over this case study, extreme statements anonymity, in order to protect ongoing broadcasting LGBT-related content, as by senior officials—sometimes similar domestic programs. well as sanctioning strict punishment 43 to “national security” language used for violation of LGBT content delivery.” The 2016 crackdown began with a by officials in Kyrgyzstan and other The Information and Communication relatively minor controversy over the countries, sometimes veering far into Ministry even instructed messaging apps distribution of flyers by an LGBT student hyperbole or even hate speech—are to remove LGBT content, such as emojis, group at the University of Indonesia the main driver of closing space for that do not “respect the culture” of in January. In response, Technology, 44 LGBT groups. Indonesia. Worryingly, religious leaders Research and Higher Education Minister began to demand that Parliament table A vibrant democracy, Indonesia is home Muhammad Nasir made a statement on new legislation to block legal registration to a vast and diverse civil society sector. January 25th that there was no room of LGBT organizations. In Yogyakarta, This has included a growing number of for LGBT people at the university, and police and local authorities closed Al national and local LGBT groups, which that the student group has no right to Fatah Pesantren Waria, a school for 39 have emerged over several decades. exist. transgender students, in response According to UNDP and USAID, which to pressure from an Islamic religious This attack on freedom of assembly for jointly authored a comprehensive group.45 LGBT students was picked up quickly by overview of LGBT activism in Indonesia, the media and amplified by other senior there are 119 LGBT organizations in 28 40 “Minister: LGBT movement more dangerous than nuclear government officials, who climbed on the warfare,” Tempo (February 23, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, out of the country’s 34 provinces.38 http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/23/055747534/ bandwagon in a flurry of homophobic Minister-LGBT-Movement-More-Dangerous-than-Nucle- From the 1980s to the present, ar-Warfare press statements that cascaded Indonesian LGBT groups have grown 41 “Former Indonesian cabinet minister calls for ‘homosex- throughout the month of February and uals’ to be ‘put to death’,” Buzzfeed (February 26, 2016), in size and reach, including a national accessed April 15, 2016, www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/for- into March. Some of these statements mer-indonesian-cabinet-minister-calls-for-homosexuals-to#. network that works in partnership with yqQw1d7d9 veered into dangerous hyperbole: as in government agencies in implementing 42 Darren Wee, “Indonesia bans effeminate men on TV,” Kyrgyzstan, in Indonesia homosexuality Gay Star News (February 29, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, the national AIDS response. www.gaystarnews.com/article/indonesia-bans-effemi- was linked to national security threats nate-men-on-tv/#gs.null 43 Human Rights Watch, “indonesia: Don’t censor LGBT This history has not been untroubled: when the defense minister called LGBT speech,” (March 9, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, advocacy “more dangerous than nuclear www.hrw.org/news/2016/03/09/indonesia-dont-censor-lg- Indonesian police have sometimes bt-speech 44 HRW, “Indonesia: Don’t censor.” 38 UNDP, USAID, Being LGBT in Asia: Indonesia country 39 “LGBT not welcome at university: Minister,” The Jakarta 45 Bambang Muryanto, “Transgender Muslims in fear after school report, (Bangkok, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, Post (January 25, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, shutdown.” The Jakarta Post, February 29, 2016. Accessed April www.asia-pacific.undp.org/content/rbap/en/home/opera- www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/25/lgbt-not-wel- 14, 2016, www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/29/trans- tions/projects/overview/being-lgbt-in-asia.html. come-university-minister.html gender-muslims-fear-after-school-shutdown.html. 15 In this climate of accelerating political doing this work we will kill you.” In other programs, poverty alleviation, pressure, some support came from the provinces, you have members clean water. Yes, of course that’s sympathetic politicians, including of fundamentalist groups [that] will important. In the early 90s when Coordinating Political, Legal and Security actually go up to an activist, say a the government stopped all Dutch Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who trans individual who is visible, and funding… NOVIB and HIVOS actually called for protection of the rights of personally threaten the person. One set up companies within Indonesia LGBT people (though he also said of our partners in East Kalimantan and kept funding organizations, he believed homosexuality should be did have members from the group mostly human rights, also some “cured”).46 Vice President Jusuf Kalla coming up to him and saying we will worker and farmer advocacy spoke against the passage of any laws rape you, we will kill members of groups. “interfering in the internal affairs of your family and we will kill you. citizens.”47 The Pancasila Caucus of He suggested that tactics like the House of Representatives issued While such homophobic and this, involving registering domestic a statement asserting that LGBT transphobic attacks were previously companies to enable continued people have the right to “protection unusual in Jakarta, she said, advocates funding for domestic organizations, is and a feeling of safety, just like other worry they may become more common something that donors should pursue in citizens.”48 now, with political leaders’ homophobia the context of closing civil society space fanning the waves of sensationalistic for LGBT work. However, even without the passage of media coverage. specific laws targeting civil society or Poore noted that funding for LGBT LGBT groups, the sweeping restrictions Some LGBT groups have begun to programs in Indonesia might still on online media, a critical tool for reaching explore security measures to protect be feasible if it is done quietly and otherwise hidden LGBT people, the advocates, groups and community sensitively, and without public branding hostile statements by senior officials, members from violence and by the donor. Funders who keep a lower 49 and the looming threat of potential intimidation. Others described a profile have fared better in these more restrictions on NGO registration, have rush to remove potentially dangerous constrained contexts, she says, created a threatening environment content from websites, and changing for LGBT groups. Some began to see their work and travel routines to [Successful funders in these signs of involvement in surveillance and manage risk. contexts] are discreet. Before control by national intelligence agents. approving a grant request they have Officials have also specifically targeted After one face-off between national a rigorous screening approach, but foreign funding for LGBT groups. Vice intelligence agents and an LGBT group once they decide to give an LGBT President Jusuf Kalla stated publicly over training for about 25 people that organization the funds, they allow that the National Development had been planned in a trusted hotel, the organization to use the money in Planning Agency had summoned the activists have begun to seek less public the way that makes the most sense UN Development Programme (UNDP) venues to hold meetings. on the ground. They are rigorous office in Indonesia and instructed them about reporting requirements, but Grace Poore of OutRight International to terminate all domestic activities they don’t meddle, basically. says that the space in Jakarta, linked to a regional LGBT program, previously seen as open for LGBT including UNDP’s funding for domestic Noting some that some donor agency 50 groups, has tightened significantly, and LGBT groups. Advocates said staff have become personally engaged threats are becoming more common they had heard that other donors in and responded directly to crises, Poore there: Indonesia have also been unofficially commented that the demonstration told not to fund LGBT organizations. At least one group I know in Jakarta of personal involvement by donors Advocate Dédé Oetomo said that some used to get text messages or made a real difference to domestic donors are accepting the restrictions online messages, “If you continue advocates during a crisis. on LGBT funding in order to enable them to continue other programs: 46 “Luhut agrees LGBTs need rights protected but says they International health financing for are diseased,” Jakarta Post (February 16, 2016), accessed Indonesia now also faces difficult April 15, 2016,www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/16/ Some [bilateral and multilateral luhut-agrees-LGBTs-need-rights-protected-says-they-are- decisions. In late February, the new diseased.html donors] have told me we have 47 “No need for government to issue law on LGBT: VP”. leadership of the largest national union Antara News (February 19, 2016), accessed April 3, 2016, of Muslims, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), www.antaranews.com/en/news/103214/no-need-for-govt- 49 “Under attack, Indonesian LGBT groups set up safe hous- to-issue-law-on-LGBT-vp es, live in fear,” Trust (March 9, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, issued public statements calling for http://news.trust.org/item/20160309010251-30zrd/. 48 “Ferdinand Waskita, Pernyataan Pers Kaukus Pancasila DPR RI, “Kaukus Pancasila DPR RI Tegaskan LGBT Juga Warga 50 Haeril Halim, Hans Nicholas Jong and Nurul Fitri Rama- criminalization of LGBT people, and Negara yang Berhak Dilindungi,” Tribun Nasional (February 21, dhani,“Govt. demands UNDP remove funding for LGBT pro- calling homosexuality “incompatible 2016), accessed April 3, 2016, www.tribunnews.com/nasion- grams,” Jakarta Post (February 16, 2016), accessed April 15, al/2016/02/21/kaukus-pancasila-dpr-ri-tegaskan-LGBT-ju- 2016, www2.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/16/govt-de- ga-warga-negara-yang-berhak-dilindungi mands-undp-remove-funding-LGBT-programs.html. 16 with human nature.”51 After public rhetoric and the shutdowns of LGBT always existed below the surface. Said criticism of its stance, NU’s health websites. Oetomo emphasized the Oetomo, “Some older activists say this department issued a separate strength and strategic nature of this was bound to happen anyway. Now statement reiterating its position alliance: the cards are on table: let’s face it.” that “the tendencies of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) are Our coalition statements include a form of perversion and the practice mainstream human rights of LGBT is a desecration of human organizations, feminists, indigenous dignity.” NU called for laws to be passed groups, a rainbow coalition. We that would ban homosexuality and were told you guys [LGBT groups] provide for “rehabilitation.”52 should not appear on this, it should be everyone else saying this is NU is currently a recipient of funding unacceptable. from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria through June He noted that the National 2016, and is being considered as a Commission on Human Rights has also potential implementer for the next issued a public statement referencing round of Global Fund financing that the Yogyakarta Principles, and calling begins in 2017. The funding supports for state action to protect and fulfill 53 HIV prevention work among key the rights of LGBT people. Poore populations vulnerable to HIV. In 2015, agreed that national-level solidarity the Global Fund integrated human with LGBT advocates has been rights minimum standards into all grant effective, but noted that in smaller agreements, including a commitment towns, formerly outspoken allies to non-discrimination and a complaints have been intimidated: “If they used procedure for those who believe they to be supportive they have grown have been victims of rights abuses silent, taken a grey position, become such as discrimination. In 2015, the noncommittal on LGBT issues.” Global Fund also approved a policy that its funding may not be used for The question remains why the targeting compulsory treatment including “cures of LGBT groups is happening at this for homosexuality.” particular moment. Two longtime observers who spoke to GPP speculated Indonesian advocates have written to that the scapegoating of LGBT may the Global Fund’s domestic oversight be a power play by opposition political mechanism, the Country Coordinating forces displaced in the populist fever of Mechanism, demanding they address the last presidential elections, pointing NU’s statements. Both UN agencies and out that one of the papers aligned with HIV activists say they intend to monitor the opposition has been the most vocal NU’s service delivery closely. in its denunciation of LGBT groups. As in Kyrgyzstan, the Indonesian As in this example, Indonesian LGBT rhetoric has linked LGBT groups to advocacy continues, including advocacy foreign influences, while calling for a targeting international aid. Advocates return to “traditional” values, religious noted that during the current crisis, they conservatism and nationalism. In both have developed stronger partnerships countries, the trend towards nationalist with mainstream human rights revival appears closely linked to public organizations, which came together to homophobia. denounce the homophobic government Other observers said they were less surprised when this wave of 51 Fedina S. Sundaryani, “NU joins anti-LGBT bandwagon with edict,” Jakarta Post (February 27, 2016), accessed April 15, homophobia emerged, because it had 2016, www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/27/nu-joins- anti-lgbt-bandwagon-with-edict.html..

52 Suara Nahdlatul Ulama, “Pernyataan Sikap LKNU Terkait 53 The Yogyakarta Principles were developed by a group of Tudingan Dukung LGBT”, Indonesian original accessed human rights experts who met in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in April 3, 2016, www.nu.or.id/post/read/66290/pern- 2006 to outline a set of international principles relating to yataan-sikap-lknu-terkait-tudingan-dukung-LGBT. Unofficial sexual orientation and gender identity. For more informa- translation provided by Kyle Knight, Human Rights Watch tion, see www.yogyakartaprinciples.org 17 Counterterrorism legislation has given hanging over our heads.” “ We try to the government sweeping authorities All Kenyan civil society organizations to review and investigate CSO finances have had to contend with the chilling and operations. In 2014, the Kenyan effect of government retaliation. engage government de-registered over 500 For LGBT groups, the environment CSOs, including some with alleged of instability is made worse by their everybody links to terrorism.56 In October 2015, criminalization and by a climate of ” there was a similar push to de-register police impunity for abuse. Kenyan law another 957 CSOs, though authorities criminalizes same-sex sexual behavior Kenya backed down after a public outcry. with up to 14 years’ imprisonment; though the law is rarely enforced, it Kenya’s struggle for civil society Kenyan authorities have also exposes LGBT individuals to the risk space has been ongoing for years. It attempted to use proposed new of police violence, harassment, and recently has included the government’s legislation on the registration and extortion.59 Human rights reports by deregistration of hundreds of CSOs governance of civil society to restrict Persons Marginalized and Aggrieved during a protracted fight over foreign funding. A bill known as the (PEMA-Kenya) and by Gay and Lesbian efforts to hold senior government Public Benefits Organizations Act (or Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) have officials accountable for funding PBO Act) was developed under the documented ongoing mob violence and orchestrating 2007-08 election previous presidential administration and police abuse against LGBT people violence. At the same time, the Kenyan with the aim of facilitating better across the country, noting the toxic authorities have been forced to registration and management of role played by homophobic speech by respond to the threat of terrorism from CSOs. However, while it was enacted religious leaders.60 al-Shabaab and the Somali borders in 2013, the act has not yet been since 2011. implemented, due to a number of new Kenyan LGBT groups have had to be proposed Parliamentary amendments cautious about their public profile as These and other contests over Kenya’s that would impose a controversial 15% a result. Esther Adhiambo of PEMA- constantly shifting civic space have cap on foreign funding, among other Kenya says of her work, naturally created pressure on LGBT restrictions.57t groups as well. However, despite All these things you are doing – you these pressures and the fact that Public protest against the proposed can’t even publicize them. Most African states have been frequently in amendments to the PBO Act information is hidden. You will be international news over homophobic was broad-based and vocal, and afraid that the Kenyan revenue incidences and legislation, Kenya has concerns were raised by UN human authority will check your books a vibrant and active LGBT civil society rights experts. Cabinet Secretary for and say you are doing something sector, empowered in part by powers Planning and Devolution Anne Waiguru [wrong]. They have not raided LGBT in the new Constitution. established a task force to collect public organizations yet, but they raid views and make recommendations58. other organizations. You never know After Kenya’s hotly contested 2007- The final report recommended when that can hit you… If we have a 08 presidential elections, there was rejecting the foreign funding cap, and website, people will follow us, we will a strong push from many civil society urged the immediate enactment of be publicized, and we’ll be under the organizations to hold the president the Act without any of the proposed hawk eye of the media. and vice-president accountable for government amendments. To date, the election-related violence. Related Act remains in limbo. “The discussions As a result, many Kenyan NGOs working cases continue to move through the around the bill are not concluded,” on LGBT issues register under more Kenyan courts and have been brought says Mukami Murete, deputy executive general or vague mission statements, to the International Criminal Court, director of UHAI East Africa Sexual and avoid publishing their work online. with mixed success.54 The government and Health Rights Initiative. “It’s a thing Visibility brings numerous risks to both has responded energetically, accusing groups and individuals. Says Mukami Kenyan CSOs of promoting foreign Murete of UHAI, 1, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, www.theguardian.com/ interests, and threatening to leave the world/2016/feb/01/african-union-kenyan-plan-leave-interna- International Criminal Court over its tional-criminal-court 55 56 Kenya de-registers NGOs in anti-terror clampdown,” BBC “unfair targeting” of African leaders. News, (December 16, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30494259 59 Human Rights Watch, “Kenya,” World Report 2015 (New York, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, 54 Mark P. Lagon, “When civil society is attacked, Kenya’s 57 “Simon Allison, “Kenya: Think again, civil sociey in Kenya is www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/kenya democracy is imperiled,” Freedom House (January 8, 2016), down but not out,” (January 5, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, accessed April 15, 2016, https://freedomhouse.org/blog/ http://allafrica.com/stories/201601050964.html 60 Human Rights Watch and PEMA-Kenya, The issue is when-civil-society-attacked-kenya-s-democracy-imperiled violence: Attacks on LGBT people on Kenya’s coast (New 58 The PBO Task Force, Kenya Ministry of Devolution and York, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, www.hrw.org/re- 55 Agence France-presse, “African Union members back Planning, Taskforce report on the Public Benefit Organizations port/2015/09/28/issue-violence/attacks-lgbt-people-ken- Kenyan plan to leave the ICC,” The Guardian, (February Act 2013 (May 5, 2015). yas-coast. 18 Our issues are always around and remove issues on lesbians and cousin who had been rejected by the morality…. That is remarkably gays and all that. We are few and family. In early 2016, when Nairobi different from challenges that other then there is everyone else. When senator Mike Sonko posted a message mainstream organizations may people attack you, they come in on Facebook calling for homosexuals face. When LGBT-related cases are masses. to be burned, religious leaders who discussed in public, it comes with a had participated in the PEMA training lot of hate speech and hate talk…. By carefully managing their visibility publicly called for tolerance.61 “We are There are always spurts of violence and public profile, however, Kenyan working with these people, and we after such discussions. People get advocates have managed to move need to reach out and help them,” said exposed. People get evicted from their work forward significantly. Esther Adhiambo. their homes. Voices for Women in Western Kenya is one such organization working with While working behind the scenes is In particular, LGBT advocates pointed LBT women in rural areas. Georgina critical in rural and coastal regions, to counterterrorism policies as creating Adhiambo says her organization has media work has also helped to specific threats to LGBT advocates. had success with bringing these issues change the public discourse. In 2014, Lorna Dias of GALCK described the into community discussions about the the Kenya Film Classification Board “Nyumba Kumi” anti-terrorist initiative, concerns of rural women: banned a documentary, “Stories of which requires clusters of households Our Lives,” which documented five to take responsibility for monitoring We started having community stories of LGBT people in Kenya. In and reporting “suspicious behavior,” as conversations on what affects 2016, another controversy erupted a source of trouble for outspoken LGBT women. We take an inclusive over the Kenya Film Classification advocates: approach. We really try to include Board’s attempts to persuade Google everybody because we want to to take down an explicitly queer- Wherever they move, if they go into learn more about everybody…. positive remix and music video of the medium or high-density housing We live in these communities, and hit song “Same Love,” by young Kenyan environments, neighbors gang up we try to make LGBT issues just LGBT artists Art Attack.”62 However, and go to landlord, and demand another aspect of where we stay. several activists noted that the efforts the landlord evict them or face dire to censor the video may well have Other activists working on LGBT issues consequences. backfired, bringing videos like “Same have taken advantage of Kenya’s Love” to many more viewers who The “Nyumba Kumi” initiative has policy of devolution, in which political “watched it and didn’t see anything created a climate of fear, says power has been devolved to local wrong,” says Esther Adhiambo. Some Dias. In 2014, when Uganda’s Anti- authorities, to work with local health activists attributed the public shift to Homosexuality Bill sparked an influx and gender ministries and become ongoing media work done by LGBT of LGBT refugees into Kenya, “We had active in county assemblies. “We are advocates. In Mutisya Leonard’s view: a situation where everyone felt that making progress,” says Adhiambo. they were being monitored, and the Before only one story was told, In Mombasa, Esther Adhiambo has requests for relocation spiked, whether but now in every media house similarly used low profile, steady work or not the threats were real.” we expect them to balance it by behind the scenes to sensitize several inviting a community activist to formerly homophobic religious leaders. In one incident where PEMA aimed to respond so that people expect After Sheikh Ali Hussein, one of the train police on LGBT issues in 2013-14, to see many sides to a story. The best-known imams in Mombasa, called Esther Adhiambo remembered that story is not complete unless there’s for the killing of all gays, PEMA invited police participants began to discuss a gay person or a trans person in him to a twelve-week sensitization the training by social media, saying that the room. PEMA was “recruiting police officers program on access to HIV services to be LGBT.” The Inspector General for marginalized persons. Without Murete agrees that appearing on was tagged in the tweets and a social explicitly addressing homosexuality, talk shows and radio shows has media flame war erupted: PEMA spoke generally about health been important, even when it is an and human rights. unpleasant experience: “Having gay We had to stop the police training people be the people speaking about for one year, we kept asking our In the final week of the training, the facilitators disclosed that they were donors for no-cost extension. We 61 Maureen Mudi, “I have no apologies for gay comments: had to look for the Tweets and gay. The participants, including the Soko,” The Star (February 25, 2016), accessed April 15, imam, were taken aback. Subsequently, 2016, www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/02/25/i-have-no- send them to donors. We had to apologies-for-gay-comments-sonko_c1301783. the imam changed his thinking about 62 www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/02/23/films-board- change the wording of the training, bans-art-attacks-same-love-remix-for-being-immor- homosexuality, reaching out to a gay al_c1300271 19 their issues, even if they do face everyone…. If only people with of neo-colonialism, rid Kenya of aggression from fellow panelists, is one views that are popular are allowed homosexuality, which leads to of the ways that activists have been to associate with others, then pedophilia. If you, the public, allow able to engage.” the room within which to have a us to surveil, we will weed out the rich dialogue and disagree with bad people and leave Kenya with Litigation has also been a critical tactic government and others in society only the good ones. for LGBT advocates. In July 2014, facing would be thereby limited. 67 refusal of the National NGO Council Kenyan LGBT activists are exploring to register an NGO, Transgender The decision was widely seen as some ambitious advocacy tactics for Education and Advocacy (TEA), a victory for right to freedom of the near future, and see sustained founder Audrey Mbugua took the case association for African LGBT groups, donor engagement as critical. Said to the court, and won a decision in TEA’s and it was in fact cited in the one activist, “We’re going up against favor from the High Court of Kenya. In Botswana court decision to permit the church, the government, all these October, Mbugua won a second suit for LGBT group LEGABIBO to register. huge actors.” Kenyan LGBT activists the right to change the gender on her However, the NGO Coordination interviewed for this report stressed the school certificate.63 Board has appealed the decision, and need for funding for capacity-building, the process is ongoing. advocacy, litigation, communications When the national NGO board refused – and above all, for continued core to register the National Gay and While acknowledging the victory, operational support. Says Dias, Lesbian Human Rights Commission of LGBT advocates who spoke to GPP Kenya, founder Eric Gitari took them to say they remain reluctant to take When donors get excited about a court as well.64 Gitari said, advantage of this win to register their thing, they redirect their funding own organizations openly. Said one: to that thing and make cuts on In article 36 of the constitution it is “Yes, the National Commission won the day-to-day project support. The said that every person has the right case there in Nairobi, but us, we are latter cannot stop. To our funding to join, form, and participate in an working in rural areas. We didn’t want partners, if there’s one thing they organization of any kind. Any person! to jeopardize the work.” can’t do it is to diminish support Any kind! What do those words to organizations that are doing mean? Do they exclude certain Being careful about tactics has been incredible day-to-day work out persons? Are there Kenyans who critical, in Lorna Dias’ view: there. are excluded from enjoying certain rights, and if so on which criteria?65 We are using language very carefully. [It’s not about] gay In April 2015, the High Court ruled in rights, it’s about human rights as favor of the National Gay and Lesbian enshrined in the constitution -- end Human Rights Commission, finding that of story…. Sometimes we engage in criminalization of same-sex sexual the discourse, sometimes we drive behavior did not extend to restrictions it, sometimes we encourage our on the right to freedom of association, partners to drive it on our behalf, and that refusal to register the NGO so that resistance is diminished was illegal.66 In its judgment, the high and we find ourselves with a road court found, and a way in.

The Constitution and the right to Similarly, Kenyan LGBT activists associate are not selective. The warned foreign donors to be cautious right to associate is a right that about publicizing their funding during is guaranteed to, and applies, to the upcoming presidential elections, when media sensationalism could spike. Mutisya Leonard comments, 63 “Kenya court victory for transgender activist Audrey Mbugua,” BBC News, (October 7, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29519881 [They will say that] the reason 64 Kenya Human Rights Commission, The outlawed amongst we are concerned about us: A study of the LGBTQ community’s search for equality and non-discrimination in Kenya (Nairobi, 2011). cleaning up of civil society is to 65 Sabine Bretz, “Interview with Eric Gotari: Sometimes I wish rid Kenya of terrorism, rid Kenya I was born two hundred years ago” (Goethe Institute Kenya, January 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, www.goethe.de/ins/ ke/en/nai/kul/mag/leb/20465545.html 67 Eric Gatari vs. Non-Governmental Organisations Coor- 66 Graeme Reid, “Africa rulings move LGBT rights forward,” dination Board and 4 others (2015), High Court of Kenya Jurist (August 5, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, www.hrw.org/ at Nairobi Constitution and Judicial Review Division. Petition news/2015/08/05/africa-rulings-move-LGBT-rights-forward Number 440 of 2013; paragraph 88. 20 “ Not enough air to breathe for civil society”

Hungary Photo by Labrisz

Despite a history of restrictive policies, Tamas Dombos, of LGBT and human Inevitably, many such organizations including supervision and surveillance rights NGO Háttér, describes a number depend on bilateral aid and private during the state socialist era, since the of mechanisms that have since been funding, making them vulnerable to mid-1990s Hungary has had a vibrant used by authorities to circumvent public criticism. In 2014, Hungarian and outspoken civil society sector. standard policy-making processes: Prime Minister Viktor Orban called such LGBT NGOs have provided health circumventing the usual process organizations paid representatives and legal services, and advocated for of consultation on proposed bills in of “foreign interests.”72 Most of the progressive social policies; Budapest Parliament to permit fast-tracking of significant funds available to civil society hosted a Pride celebration each controversial bills; adopting new laws on came from Norway. In June 2014, year.68 This changed in 2010, when civil CSOs that compelled all organizations the government launched financial society organizations began to come to amend their constitutions and inspections of three NGOs that under intense pressure under the bylaws through a court-approval administer foreign aid from Norway, administration of ruling party Fidesz. process which has been slowed by investigated recipient NGOs, alleging LGBT and women’s organizations were massive backlogs; requiring all NGOs in the media that the funds were caught in the political pressure, and to re-apply for their public benefit being mismanaged. As part of the have had to form stronger alliances status; and more, all of which combine investigation, authorities demanded with other NGOs in order to advocate to create “a destabilizing environment lists of the names of volunteers, which for preservation of their civic space. for NGOs.” would have placed LGBT volunteers at particular risk. Says Tea Erdelyi of LGBT Fidesz has taken numerous steps to In addition, the Hungarian government organization Labrisz, consolidate government and political has abolished the State NGO fund power through centralizing government, (Nemzeti Civil Alapprogram, NCA), [The investigations were] taking ratifying a new constitution, putting which Dombos characterizes as a 6 to 12 months (it was different in place a new electoral system, and representative and transparent in each case), wasn’t legitimated streamlining government agencies. mechanism of civil society financing, by any laws, and during these The new constitution, which redefined replacing it with a new funding “investigations” authorities…wanted marriage as being only between a man mechanism managed by government to know data about clients and and a woman and which also prohibited representatives and by government- volunteers of this type of NGOs abortion, came into effect despite a aligned NGOs, which have significantly (which is against the Hungarian boycott by 80 members of parliament shifted funding priorities. The new law on personal data). [Most LGBT] 69 and massive street protests. Fidesz’s priorities fall under the “National organizations cooperated with the consolidation of power included a Togetherness” objective of the authorities in the “investigation,” but sweeping crackdown on civil society government, and focus on projects for all of them denied serving personal 70 organizations. diaspora Hungarians and for promotion data on their volunteers or their of family values, which explicitly include clients…. We think that the aim of this 68 Judit Takács, “Queering Budapest,” in Queer Cities, Queer 71 Cultures: Europe since 1945, ed. by Jennifer V. Evans and work on LGBT issues. vexation was intimidation of [these] Matt Cook (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014). organizations, and obstruction of 69 Stephen Gray, “New Hungarian constitution comes into effect with same-sex marriage ban,” PinkNews (Jan- their daily work. uary 3, 2012), accessed April 15, 2016, www.pinknews. co.uk/2012/01/03/new-hungarian-constitution-comes-into- 71 Pascale Charhon and ILGA Europe, “Promoting an enabling effect-with-same-sex-marriage-ban/ civil society environment: Understanding the concept, policy environment, and its linkages with LGBT civil society protected Erdelyi notes that “Authorities talked 70 Human Rights Watch, “Hungary: Outstanding human rights (Working paper),” (January 23, 2015), accessed rights concerns,” ( February 18, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, April 15, 2016, www.icnl.org/globalforum2015/wp-content/ www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/18/hungary-outstanding-hu- uploads/2015/04/LGBT-cso-s-enabling-environment-char- man-rights-concerns. hon-consultants2015.pdf 72 Rutzen, “Aid barriers,” 25. 21 about an examination, which [would] touch every kind of NGO, but all of [the] examined NGOs were human rights/ watchdog NGOs, and gender (women rights)/LGBT related NGOs were overrepresented.”

Judit Takács, a sociologist, notes that the tax investigations placed a heavy burden on small NGOs, which lacked the staff to comply with these requirements and maintain their regular programs.

According to Human Rights Watch, four NGOs that distributed Norway grants in Hungary had their tax numbers Photo by Labrisz suspended by the government. In the end, however, Dombos notes, the In 2011 and 2012, the Budapest police Hungary, to make the voice of the LGBT investigation “closed without finding refused to issue permits for the movement heard in these platforms.” any mismanagement issues. But annual LGBT Pride march, though Dombos agrees: “It is not always they undermined public trust, due to the Metropolitan Court of Budapest easy, but I don’t see any other way constant charges in the press – it was overturned the 2011 ban.75 Budapest except to enjoy the protection of large a smear campaign.” Additional hostility Pride was able to resume in 2013 organizations.” Poghosyan also noted towards civil society was stoked despite attacks by right-wing groups, the success of Hungarian LGBT groups through public criticism in the media and Erdelyi notes that public LGBT in reconnecting with their grassroots of Hungarian philanthropist George events are now planned more carefully, base, and Dombos observes that Soros, the founder of Open Society and “need more safety provisions.” the media attention has catalyzed Foundations.73 In early 2016, the European Union’s new members: “Many others started decision to sponsor a Pride float volunteering because of the attacks.” The views of those interviewed for this sparked a negative response from the report differed as to whether the closing Hungarian authorities.76 However, as As in Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, and Kenya, space for Hungarian civil society has part of the European Union, Hungary advocates spoke to GPP about the affected all civil society organizations shares in a commitment to promoting importance for donors of maintaining equally, or has been especially an “enabling environment for CSOs” their commitment to grantees during burdensome for LGBT groups. Takács, including protecting “the de jure and periods of pressure. Says Poghosyan, the sociologist, expressed the view that de facto right to associate and secure “It is important for donors to be at the burden has been equally great on funding, coupled with freedom of peace with taking risks, to think long- all CSOs. She notes, expression, access to information and term, to work closely in partnership participation in public life.” 77 with organizations in helping them to It’s not that [authorities] are openly To resist the closing civil society space define strategies and supporting [their targeting civil society groups, it’s trend, LGBT groups in Hungary have implementation].” done in a very clever way. They are learned to work closely in coalition with not providing enough air to breathe, And as in the other three countries, other civil society organizations. Lilit and [civil society groups] would just Hungarian activists stressed the Poghosyan of ILGA-Europe comments, die, [they] don’t have to kill them. importance of having access to flexible “This was very successful in the case of core funding during a crisis. Says Others, such as Dombos, argue that Dombos, “Things may change here from all groups working with marginalized news-stories/budapest-pride-peaceful-overall-but-right- one week to the other. Political parties wing-blows-insults/ communities have been targeted, on the far right get funding from Russia 75 “Budapest Pride ban overturned,” European Parliament’s including LGBT, the homeless and Intergroup on LGBT Rights (February 28, 2011), accessed to put these things on the agenda, and 74 April 15, 2016, www.lgbt-ep.eu/news-stories/buda- refugees. pest-pride-ban-overturned/. that’s who we are up against.” 76 Andrew Rettman, “EU to sponsor gay rights boat, up- 73 “Crisis by design: Hungarian PM reveals ‘social engi- setting Hungary,” (March 8, 2016), accessed April 15, 2016, neering’ role of George Soros in refugee run,” (October https://euobserver.com/LGBT/132606. 31, 2015), accessed April 15, 2016, http://21stcenturywire. com/2015/10/31/crisis-by-design-hungarian-pm-reveals-so- 77 European Commission, Communication from the Commis- cial-engineering-role-of-george-soros-in-eu-refugee-run/. sion to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the 74 “Budapest Pride: Peaceful overall but right-wing blows Regions, The roots of democracy and sustainable devel- and insults,” European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights opment: Europe’s engagement with civil society in external (July 20, 2013), accessed April 15, 2016, www.lgbt-ep.eu/ relations (Brussels: December 9, 2012), 5 22 Conclusions

The four case studies in this report show the diversity Some have developed new alliances with larger of experiences of LGBT groups in the context of closing civil society organizations or with regional networks, global space for civil society. With a growing number of working tactically in coalition to respond to the countries passing new legislation that limits freedom pressure. Others have reached out to develop new of association and targets foreign funding for all NGOs, channels of persuasion and influence with religious the environment in which civil society groups operate leaders. While the media can play a toxic role through is increasingly unstable and unpredictable. In this inflammatory coverage, it has also in some contexts context, new laws that target “LGBT propaganda,” and become a platform for public dialogue and education, the resurgence of nationalism with its emphasis on enabling new LGBT voices to emerge. Future research “traditional values,” can create heightened pressure can learn from their experience, documenting lessons on LGBT activists. In some contexts, the public learned by LGBT groups as the response to closing civil scapegoating of LGBT groups by nationalist politicians society space continues to evolve. creates an environment in which violence against LGBT individuals is tolerated, and sometimes actively encouraged. Photo by Labrys

At the same time, the LGBT activists interviewed for this report continue to operate, opening new community centers, launching new programs, and flexibly tailoring their tactics as they go in order to preserve the space they need to work.

Many of those interviewed underscored the importance of donors, including bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, using their leverage to support LGBT groups’ continued work as part of broader efforts to resist closing civil society space. Bilateral and multilateral aid conditionality has been a subject of debate, and the diverse views of activists interviewed for this report emphasized the importance of using aid conditionality in relation to LGBT rights carefully. While pressure by international aid agencies, such as the European Commission, may have strengthened the hand of moderates in Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament, LGBT activists in Uganda have urged against the use of aid conditionality.78

78 Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law (CSCHRCL), “Guidelines to national, regional, and international partners on how to support now that the Anti-Homosex- uality Bill has been assented to,” (Kampala, Uganda: March 3, 2014), accessed April 15, 2016, www.blacklooks.org/2014/03/guidelines-to-ugandan-national-regional-international-partners-on-support-around-the-anti-homosexuality-bill/. 23 Acknowledgements

GPP is grateful to the following for sharing their experiences, contacts and advice for the report: Esther Adhiambo, Georgina Adhiambo, Maxim Anmeghichean, Jonah Chinga, Lorna Dias, Iva Dobichina, Tamas Dombos, Tea Erdelyi, Kene Esom, Ricky Gunawan, Sarah Gunther, Matthew Hart, Allison Jernow, Poonam Joshi, Anna Kirey, Kyle Knight, David Kuria, Sanjar Kurmanov, Mutisya Leonard, Scott Long, David Mattingly, Mukami Murete, Berry Nibogora, Dédé Oetomo, Lilit Poghosyan, Grace Poore, Jessica Stern, Judit Takacs, Bjorn van Roozendaal, Luis Vivaldi, Luna Yasui, and others who asked to remain anonymous. The author is grateful to Ezra Nepon for assistance with copyediting. Any remaining errors are the author’s responsibility.

24 About Global Philanthropy Project

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBT) people in the Global South and East. Established in 2009, GPP’s 16 member organizations include many of the leading global funders and philanthropic advisors for LGBT rights. As the first international cohort of LGBT funders, GPP is internationally recognized as the primary thought leader and go-to partner for donor coordination around global LGBT work.

Our Goals:

Cultivate and deepen the knowledge, skills and Increase the amount and influence the type capacity of GPP members and other funders in of philanthropic giving from individual donors support of global LGBT issues. dedicated to global LGBT issues.

Increase the amount and influence the type of Increase the amount and influence the type of private and public foundation funding dedicated to philanthropic giving from corporations dedicated to global LGBT issues. global LGBT issues.

Increase the amount and influence the type of Build a dynamic, responsive, and effective multilateral and bilateral aid and development structure enabling the GPP network. funding dedicated to global LGBT issues.

Executive Committee: Staff:

J. Bob Alotta, Co-Chair Matthew Hart Executive Director, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice Coordinator

Maxim Anmeghichean [email protected] Human Rights Initiative Program Officer, Open Society Foundations Ezra Berkley Nepon Adrian Coman Associate International Human Rights Program Director, Arcus Foundation [email protected] Shalini Eddens Director of Programs, Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights

Michael Heflin Director of Equality Human Rights Initiative, Open Society Foundations

Dave Scamell Global Philanthropy Project Associate Director Sexual Health and Rights, American Jewish C/O ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE World Service 116 EAST 16TH STREET, 7TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10003 Addison Smith, Co-Chair Program Officer, Wellspring Advisors WWW.GLOBALPHILANTHROPYPROJECT.ORG