The United Nations’ top human-rights official, Volker Türk, delivered a stark warning at a side event of the General Assembly: a “comprehensive onslaught” is sweeping the globe against people who identify as LGBTQ or intersex. He described the backlash as deep, coordinated, and accelerating, noting that the persecution of these groups is now happening at an “alarming rate” across every region.
Global backlash and funding freezes
Türk highlighted recent crackdowns, citing recent raids on LGBTQ venues in Istanbul and the criminalisation of consensual same-sex relations in Senegal. He also pointed to the United States’ recent policy shift under the Trump-Vance administration, which labeled radical pro-trans groups as security threats and froze almost all foreign aid after taking office in 2025. The freeze led to a 90 % drop in financing for LGBTQ and intersex organisations worldwide, according to a report from Outright International. The U.S. Agency for International Development was officially shut down on July 1 2025, leaving programmes such as PEPFAR to operate on limited waivers.
In response, several European governments pledged fresh resources. The Netherlands announced €50 million (about $57 million) for global LGBTQ initiatives, while the United Kingdom committed £21 million (roughly $28 million) for the 2026-2029 period. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, an openly gay leader, underscored that “equality benefits everyone,” a sentiment echoed by other diplomats and NGOs present at the Core Group meeting.
Local empowerment: Sefton Council’s LGBTQIA+ survey
While the UN discourse focused on the macro-level crisis, municipal authorities in England took a grassroots step. Sefton Council opened a five-minute online questionnaire aimed at residents who identify as LGBTQIA+. Launched in July, the survey seeks insight on inclusion, safety, community participation, access to services, and mental and physical well-being. By late September, nearly 200 people had responded, offering a snapshot of lived experience in the region.
Jen Corcoran, founder of Sefton Pride, praised the turnout, stressing that the data will shape future services, initiatives, and policy decisions. Dr. Rory McGill, the council’s Director of Public Health, added that the findings will guide public-health planning and ensure that equality considerations are embedded across all local programmes. The deadline for participation is Wednesday, 30 September.
Aosta Pride Week uses film to bind movements
In the Alpine city of Aosta, the annual Pride Week (19-26 September) combined cultural programming with political reflection. The festival highlighted three feature films that explore historic alliances between LGBTQ activists and broader social movements. Matthew Warchus’s *Pride* dramatises the 1984 partnership between Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners and striking coal workers in Wales, illustrating how shared opposition to oppressive institutions can forge lasting solidarity.
Gus Van Sant’s *Milk* revisits the 1970s-80s struggle of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, focusing on his battle against Proposition 6 and his strategy of encouraging others to come out—an early form of visibility politics still relevant today. Finally, Ryan Murphy’s television adaptation of *The Normal Heart* brings Larry Kramer’s semi-autobiographical play to the screen, documenting the early AIDS crisis and the urgent need for community-driven advocacy.
These screenings, paired with workshops and artistic performances, reinforce the message that queer rights cannot be isolated from broader socioeconomic concerns—whether housing, wages, or climate justice. Organisers argue that the films serve as historical memory, reminding viewers that effective activism often hinges on intersecting struggles.
From the UN’s alarm over coordinated anti-LGBTQ measures to municipal surveys and cultural festivals, the current landscape shows both an intensifying wave of repression and a resilient pushback from civil society. The juxtaposition underscores a crucial truth: safeguarding lgbtq rights demands action at every level, from international policy corridors to local community rooms and cinematic screens.
