Stonewall responds to US Government's decision to suspend foreign aid

Responding to the US Government's decision to suspend foreign aid, Simon Blake, CEO of Stonewall, said: 

"Many will be rightly fearful of the impact the US Government's decision to suspend foreign aid will have, including for programmes supporting LGBTQ+ communities around the world. This latest decision signals a further rollback of rights and support for marginalised groups by the new administration and its impact will be detrimental to communities living in extremely challenging circumstances and environments across the globe.

“Stonewall’s work in eastern Europe and the Caucasus is enabled by many funders, including the US Government, and supports communities and law enforcement agencies to respond to anti-LGBTQ+ violence, often providing vital services to victims. Programmes like this are crucial given the anti-LGBTQ+ laws and rhetoric being increasingly enforced in the region, but they need continued and committed support and funding to succeed.

"We are working hard with our partners to mitigate the impact of the US government’s decision and ensure that the communities and individuals we support aren’t also victims of a political agenda thousands of miles away."