LGBT

"These people are fighting for survival in societies that are hostile to their very existence," said Dr. Chloe Schwenke, who described LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people as being "embattled." She, along with three other global LGBT experts -- Urooj Arshad, Victor Mukasa, and Ryan Ubuntu Olson -- spoke at a recent IREX event on how the international development community could best work with LGBT populations globally.

As the vulnerability of LGBT people around the world has been well-documented by organizations such as the UN and Human Rights Watch, the experts offered these key recommendations for those working with LGBT groups abroad: 

When I was a young, gay rights activist more than two decades ago—the term LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) hadn’t emerged yet—I never thought I’d see the progress we’re witnessing on a truly global scale today. Now as a “seasoned” international development professional, this year’s LGBT Pride Month has a particular resonance with me.