By Elise Colomer-Cheadle | Project Contact
Donor Impact Report: Supporting LGBTIQ Communities Amid Crisis in Ukraine
Dear Supporters,
In times of crisis, LGBTIQ people are often left behind. Whether due to a lack of cultural competency or systemic discrimination, mainstream humanitarian systems frequently fail to meet the unique needs of LGBTIQ individuals. This neglect puts lives at risk. In large-scale emergencies, LGBTIQ communities cannot always count on established relief channels for basic survival—access to food, water, safe shelter, medical care, transportation, and essential medications such as hormone replacement therapy and HIV treatment.
Since the onset of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Outright International has taken urgent action to ensure that LGBTIQ people are not forgotten. Our network of partner organizations in Ukraine and across neighboring countries reached out for help, and thanks to your generous support, we’ve responded.
Your Impact So Far
Through the Outright Ukraine Fund, we’ve disbursed over $3.5 million in emergency aid, issuing 150 grants to 46 LGBTIQ-serving organizations in Ukraine and the region. These funds have provided:
Safe shelter and emergency food supplies
Competent physical and psychological medical care
Access to critical medication, including HIV treatment
Transportation for those fleeing or returning
Operational support to ensure organizations can keep their doors open
More than 84% of these grants have gone directly to groups operating inside Ukraine—organizations that are not only providing immediate humanitarian aid but also leading crucial advocacy to advance LGBTIQ rights in an incredibly hostile environment.
A Growing Emergency
As the war continues, LGBTIQ groups remain a lifeline—offering legal aid, healthcare, and community support to those most at risk. But today, that lifeline is under severe threat.
In January 2025, a sweeping executive order by President Trump halted all U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days. This freeze has abruptly cut off essential funding to our LGBTIQ partners in Ukraine, placing their life-saving work in immediate jeopardy. At the same time, special emergency funds for Ukraine are rapidly depleting.
Our Response
Outright is meeting this crisis head-on by working on two urgent fronts:
Sustaining LGBTIQ groups in Ukraine through emergency grants to ensure continuity of critical services.
Advocating with and training mainstream humanitarian agencies to ensure LGBTIQ people are not excluded from aid efforts.
But we cannot do this without you.
How You Can Help
Your continued generosity is crucial. With funding at risk, the survival of LGBTIQ organizations—and the communities they serve—depends on urgent donations. Your gift today will:
Keep shelters open
Ensure access to healthcare and medication
Support legal and psychosocial aid
Empower LGBTIQ groups to advocate for equal protection and dignity
Hear directly from our Program Officer for Ukraine about why this work matters now more than ever: Watch the video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3nCfvMcNI]
Together, we can ensure that LGBTIQ people are not forgotten in times of war and displacement—and that their right to survive, thrive, and be seen is fully upheld.
With deep gratitude,
Links:
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