“She escaped with her life—and found healing in a Mexico City shelter. But when the funding disappeared, so did the support that kept her safe.
Before the USAID funding freeze, Casa Frida was a lifeline. For LGBTIQ+ migrants fleeing violence, the shelter was more than just a roof, it was a place to rebuild.
Daniela, a young trans woman from Central America, was one of many who showed up at Casa Frida’s doors in Mexico City over the past years. She arrived after fleeing persecution and extreme violence after coming out as transgender. At Casa Frida, she found what she needed most: people who cared. She received therapy, legal counseling, and help initiating her asylum application in Mexico.
Over time, Daniela moved into her own space and began living a life without fear with the continued support of Casa Frida. Everything was starting to look up, and then the USAID funding freeze set in.
Casa Frida’s funding was cut off, and Daniela was forced to interrupt her personal and legal process. Her support system now severed, she felt vulnerable to the world and the circumstances outside of her control once again.
“When I arrived, for the first time in years I slept without fear. When they told me they couldn’t help me anymore, I felt like I was being thrown back into the void.” — Daniela
Casa Frida is one of the 130 LGBTIQ+ groups across 50 countries supported by Outright International, an LGBTIQ+ human rights organization.
We spoke with Maria Sjödin, the Executive Director of Outright, who shared that “the U.S. government’s withdrawal from foreign aid puts the safety and human rights of LGBTIQ people worldwide at risk.” She also shared several anonymous quotes from LGBTQ activists within their global network:
“[There will be] deaths, more intolerance against LGBTIQ persons, and emboldened actions such as further criminalization and arrests.” — Activist from East Africa
“More than funding has been taken away from us. Hope, belief, and a chance to pursue happiness was snatched away.” — Caribbean LGBTIQ Activist
“We are also afraid that this move will embolden and inspire other far-right governments to follow a similar path, further jeopardizing LGBTIQ+ rights and advocacy efforts globally.” — Activist from Southeast Asia
The USAID funding cuts disrupted critical lifelines during a time of rising global hostility toward LGBTIQ+ people. In moments of crisis, coordination saves lives. That’s why funding networks like Outright International is so critical. It’s about funding infrastructure at speed and scale.
Outright doesn’t just pass along funds—they strategically invest in the long-term strength of movements. They amplify the voices of LGBTIQ+ activists, offer strategic advice, training, networking, and crisis response, and connect organizations to meaningful progress across sectors. But Outright’s infrastructure took a hit by the funding cuts, meaning stories like Daniela’s and the quoted activists are bubbling up from the gaps left behind.
At the same time, it’s also true that Outright is uniquely positioned to respond to exactly this type of crisis. Why? Because Outright already has the relationships, regional knowledge, and systems in place to mobilize support fast and effectively.
Daniela’s story isn’t an isolated case, but a glimpse into what’s at risk when support systems are pulled away, and what’s possible when we re-invest in them.
And while large-scale funding sources like USAID have pulled back, other efforts are stepping in to help fill the gap, including the GlobalGiving Community Aid Fund.
Like Outright, GlobalGiving understands that resilience doesn’t live in just one organization—it lives in the networks that connect and sustain them.
“In moments of rupture, it’s not just the frontlines that need support, it’s the bridges that carry resources, knowledge, and protection to those frontlines,” says GlobalGiving CEO, Victoria Vrana.
The Community Aid Fund is helping reinforce those bridges, so that stories like Daniela’s don’t end in isolation, but continue on in strength.
Support the GlobalGiving Community Aid Fund
Featured Photo: Help LGBTIQ people and groups in Ukraine by Outright InternationalFind exactly what you're looking for in our Learn Library by searching for specific words or phrases related to the content you need.
