Emergency support as the lifeline for LGBTQ+ activists facing violence

In an emergency, we are always reminded of one simple instruction: put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. It’s a lesson in survival, in recognising that to help those around us, we must first ensure our own safety and stability. 

This metaphor resonates powerfully in the current landscape for LGBTQ+ organisations and activists grappling with the impacts of the anti-rights movement. Organisations that should be focusing their efforts on helping others are finding themselves focused on staying safe.

At Frontline AIDS, we see the harrowing effects of this movement through our Rapid Response Fund. This mechanism, designed to support organisations facing immediate threats, is a tool which can provide organisations with a little more breathing room as the atmosphere stoking gender-based violence becomes increasingly claustrophobic. 

It’s particularly relevant as we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). In the context of rising hostilities, 75% of our successful Rapid Response Fund grantees in 2023 requested funding for safety and security measures, demonstrating a need for lifelines in an increasingly hostile landscape. 

Anti rights messaging fuels stigma, violence, and discrimination that cuts off access to life-saving healthcare, human rights, and HIV services. It can be coordinated and even government sponsored. Over the past year, we have seen that the majority of applications are linked to increased violence and security risks stemming from anti-rights narratives.

Organisations have reported harassment, physical assaults, and attacks on their facilities. Some have had to relocate offices due to credible threats, while others face constant digital and physical security breaches. The violence directed at these organisations is not random—it is a direct consequence of anti-rights rhetoric that dehumanises LGBTQ+ individuals and fuels fear in their communities. 

One grantee operating in the shadow of their country’s anti-gay legislation, faced multiple incidents of police raids and online harassment. Their staff was forced to focus on protecting their own safety through measures like enhanced security protocols and privacy tools for communication. Another organisation reported violent attacks on shelters for LGBTQ+ individuals, with pregnant staff members among those assaulted. These organisations, like many others, are spending precious resources addressing immediate security concerns. This makes advancing their long-term programming goals much more challenging. 

Funding for tackling violence is crucial

Emergency response mechanisms like the Rapid Response Fund are the oxygen mask that provides a lifeline to these organisations amidst crises. Through grants, they’ve been able to install security cameras, hire 24-hour guards, relocate to safer spaces, and provide direct medical care for those injured or displaced by violence.

However, these measures, while vital, highlight the grim reality: organisations are having to focus on survival in addition to their advocacy, programming, and outreach work that drives systemic change. 

Gender-based violence has always been a devastating consequence of stigma and discrimination. The anti-rights movement exacerbates these harms, not just by targeting individuals but by dismantling the ecosystems of support that communities rely on. LGBTQ+ organisations should be empowered to advocate for equality, expand access to healthcare, and create safe spaces for their communities. Instead, they are being forced into a defensive position, dedicating resources to crisis response rather than building long-term solutions. 

As we reflect on 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, (a global campaign to prevent gender-based violence, which started on 25 November), we must recognise the need for sustained support to protect these frontline defenders. The Rapid Response Fund provides immediate relief, but the increasing demand for its services underscores the urgent need for additional resources. We value the support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Government of Ireland, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, whose investments make this vital work possible.

However, we must scale up emergency response mechanisms to match the growing threats, while also committing to long-term strategies that counter the anti-rights agenda and address its root causes. 

In this fight, funding for advocacy, narrative change, and coalition building is as critical as security measures. Together, these approaches can help ensure that the organisations we support are not just surviving but thriving, creating lasting change in the face of hate and violence. 

By investing in both emergency mechanisms and systemic solutions, we can help dismantle the anti-rights movement and ensure a future where all people, regardless of their identity, can live free from fear and violence. 

Paddy Lawrance is a Human Rights Advisor at Frontline AIDS.