Filling in the Gaps Left by Drastic USAID Cuts to Lifesaving LGBT+ Programs

In late March of 2025, the new Trump regime announced massive, unprecedented cuts to USAID. These include millions upon millions in funds going to countless organizations around the world who provide lifesaving resources to underprivileged people in their local communities.

After the initial freeze on USAID was announced, we surveyed partner LGBT+ organizations in over 30 countries, asking how they will be impacted. The results were utterly heartbreaking. 75% of LGBT+ organizations globally are facing life-threatening emergencies due to lost funds. 70% of organizations have shut down critical programs and nearly half have already laid off staff.

But thanks to our members and a partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, All Out was able to grant over $400,000 to 30 grassroots LGBT+ groups facing dire emergencies because of these cuts.

Below are just a small selection of testimonials from folks who were impacted by this work. ❤️

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Here's a message of thanks from our partners at the Zimbabwe Trans Smart Trust:

Here’s what our partners at Hope Alliance Foundation in Ghana, who provided support for community members facing food insecurity, shared with us:

"I wasn’t expecting much because I was low on cash, even though I was hoping to get some groceries soon. Then I received the call, and it was pure joy. The items were even more than I expected, and I was especially grateful to see Vitamin C tablets included, which showed that my health was also being considered. I’m incredibly thankful and always pray that God blesses and multiplies the generosity of those who continue to support and care for our well-being." -  Kwame

"Thank you for your kindness and generosity in providing me with groceries. Your support has made a significant difference during this challenging time. Knowing that organizations like yours are willing to help those in need gives me hope and encouragement. I sincerely appreciate everything you do for the community and am truly grateful for the assistance you have provided. Thank you once again for your generosity and compassion." – Reggie

"I sincerely thank each and every one of you for your tireless support. Your thoughtful intervention has been a great help to me during this Ramadan season. I was facing a financial crisis that felt overwhelming, but thanks to this support, I was able to observe my fast. I am truly grateful." - Abdul 

"This support has helped me immensely. I was going through a difficult time and never expected this donation. I truly appreciate it. God bless you and your organization." – Isaac

"Receiving these groceries has been a great support, as I didn’t have to worry about what to eat in the coming days. I am truly grateful and satisfied. Thank you once again." - Prince

Here’s what our partners at Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko in the DRC shared with us:

Julia, a trans woman, says, "When I waited for the United States President's executive order suspending the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and closing USAID, I felt exhausted. I couldn't sleep because this project meant everything to me, to my survival, and to my community. I spend a lot of nights without sleeping, thinking day and night about how I'm going to survive."

But thanks to the support of All Out we were able to have a little help to allow us to have a little motivation as RSM staff to survive for a few months.

A beneficiary testimonial from our partners at Optimum Foundation in Malawi:

"Before this program, I was living in fear after being forced out of my home. The shelter provided me a safe space, and the mental health support helped me rebuild my confidence. Now, with vocational training in soap making, I will start my own small business and can support myself. I’m grateful to Optimum Foundation for believing in me." – Daniel

From our partners at One Love Sisters in Ghana:

“This grant enabled One Love Sisters Ghana to provide life-saving support to LGBTQ+ survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Ghana. We offered safe housing, urgent medical care, psychosocial support, and nutritional aid to those in crisis. A notable case involved a Muslim lesbian survivor who suffered severe abuse after her family discovered her sexuality. She was physically attacked, sustaining an infected knife wound. Through our intervention, she received medical treatment, safe relocation, and mental health support, ensuring her safety and recovery. Our partnership with All Out significantly strengthened our capacity, allowing us to expand assistance and collaborate with key stakeholders for efficient case referrals.”

Here’s some words from our partners at COBINA AC, a shelter at the Mexico and U.S. border:

“The partnership with All Out was transformational. It gave us the flexibility and rapid response capacity that most traditional funding streams lack. With this grant, we were able to cover urgent expenses, respond to unanticipated needs, and scale our food and shelter efforts during a particularly critical time when arrivals increased. All Out’s support also amplified our visibility and helped us attract additional partnerships and volunteers, showing the power of international solidarity in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and safety.”

Here are a few beneficiary testimonials from our partners at Icebreakers in Uganda:

“When I lost my job due to the funding cuts, I was scared I wouldn’t be able to continue my HIV treatment or get the support I needed. But thanks to Icebreakers and the support they received, I was able to receive my ART refills on time, and I even got food support to help me through a tough period. The security assistance was also a lifesaver, as I was facing harassment. I feel more secure and empowered now, knowing that I have a community that cares.” - Jane, a trans woman

“I was devastated when I heard the clinic might have to reduce services because of funding cuts. I rely on Icebreakers for my HIV care, but the loss of peer support and counseling was even more worrying. Thankfully, I was able to access online counseling sessions, and the clinic even delivered my medication directly to me. The community here helped me stay positive and kept me connected during a time when I felt so isolated.” - Peter, a gay man

From our partners at Insight Public Organization in Ukraine:

"As an undocumented transgender person from the Roma community, I felt invisible and without hope. Finding shelter and support through this program changed my life. At the shelter, I received not only a safe place to stay but also psychological counseling that helped me process my fears and anxieties. The team guided me through social integration, making me feel accepted for the first time. Most importantly, with their legal assistance, I was able to start the process of restoring my documents - something I never thought possible. This support has given me hope for my future." -Damian, 18 year old, an undocumented transgender man from a Roma community

From our partners at UNSA Geto in Bosnia and Herzegovina, who needed funding to make their office and community space safer:

“We have learned that when people gather around similar causes, they, as a group, are a strong driving force for change, starting with smaller steps, and gradually and mutually building to bigger strides. Our office-communal space is a prime example of how when a community in need gets together, slowly and gradually, with focused cause, gradual improvement can occur. During this reporting period, we learned that in communities, there will always be someone there to help and push each other up.”

Photos of food delivery to community members from Suriname Men United:

From our partners at Rightify Ghana:

LGBTQI+ individuals in Ghana face severe discrimination, violence, and exclusion, often requiring urgent intervention for safety and well-being. This grant enabled us to provide relocation support to 11 individuals: four lesbians, five gay men, two bisexual men, and one transgender woman across six regions.

Through this support, survivors escaped dangerous environments, such as forced marriages and family violence.

For instance, Cecilia Akosua Mawumenyo Agyare, 36, a lesbian and single mother, shared: "Your support helped my daughter and me escape unbearable abuse. I will never forget this." Similarly, Prince Essel, 20, a transgender woman, expressed: "After my family chased me out, I lost hope. Rightify Ghana gave me a safe place to call home."

This grant had a tangible impact, ensuring the safety and dignity of vulnerable LGBTQI+ individuals. The partnership with All Out was critical, as global funding for emergency support is shrinking. Their support allowed us to respond swiftly to rising cases of SGBV, reaffirming our commitment to protecting LGBTQI+ lives.

From our partners at Proud to be Trans in Guyana:

“The grant was received in an opportune time when it was most needed by the community. The  community was facing hardship to pay their rent, utility bills, affording nutritional supplies and attending to their clinical appointment from the aftermath of flooding and heavy rainfall that has destroyed many of their personal belongings. Three trans women were evicted from their apartment and were sharing space with friends and trans mothers, they were able to pay their rent and return to their own apartment. They are grateful for the rent and utility assistance. Three gender diverse and two transgender women who were lost to follow up on their HIV clinical appointment have returned for care and treatment since they benefitted from the food hampers and the transportation allowance. They are happy to be in care again, so they can be healthy. Overall community members say that they are feeling more secure now that they have received the assistance that helped them to be stable, which has improved their mental health and wellbeing.”