On International Transgender Day of Visibility and every day, the United States defends the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people around the world.

The United States works with groups in over 100 countries to affirm a consistent global message that LGBTQI+ people have the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as everyone.

The United States is a founding member of the Global Equality Fund (GEF), a public-private partnership to support, promote and protect LGBTQI+ rights.

“The Global Equality Fund provides emergency assistance to human rights defenders and human rights programming support to grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations to catalyze positive change,” says Secretary of State Antony Blinken, “and draws its strength from the support and partnership of an international coalition of like-minded governments, businesses, and foundations.”

Through its small-grants program, emergency assistance initiative and long-term human rights programming, the GEF raises awareness of the rights of transgender, gender nonbinary, and other gender diverse communities in places around the world where they experience discrimination.

With GEF’s financial support, civil society organizations:

  • Document and respond to violence against transgender people.
  • Advocate for legal protections from discrimination.
  • Empower grassroots transgender groups.
  • Educate policy-makers and society about the needs and experiences of transgender communities.

As scores of countries around the world continue to criminalize LGBTQI+ status and conduct, including consensual same-sex relationships and freedom of gender expression, the GEF supports efforts to protect the freedoms, welfare and dignity of LGBTQI+ communities.

To learn more about the ways in which GEF supports the global LGBTQI+ community, visit their website.

Banner image: Through the Global Equality Fund, the United States is working to support, promote and protect LGBTQI+ rights around the world. The transgender community is represented by the transgender pride flag. (© Shutterstock)

The original article is here on ShareAmerica.