OTTAWA – Former American diplomat in charge of LGBTQ+ rights has urged Canada to strengthen its support for sexual and gender minorities abroad, as the threat of reduction in American foreign aid loomed over a development and human rights conference held this week in Ottawa.
At the same event, a South African government minister urged Canada to stand firm against the efforts of President Donald Trump’s government to undermine human rights globally.
Jessica Stern, appointed by former U.S. President Joe Biden as the U.S. Special Envoy for human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people, spoke with The Canadian Press on the sidelines of the Ottawa Civil Space Summit.
She stated that there is a funding and defense deficit left by Donald Trump, which undermines work for LGBTQ+ people abroad.
“Canada has everything to gain by filling this gap and showing what it stands for,” Ms. Stern supported. “There are not enough countries in the world that defend LGBTQI issues. Therefore, Canada plays an outsized role.”
The call from Ms. Stern was not an isolated case.
Steve Letsike, a South African minister responsible for women, youth, and people with disabilities, stated that her country is trying to defend human rights on the continent in the face of a coordinated global movement targeting them.
“We are witnessing the rise of anti-rights, anti-gender, and anti-democratic forces. They are well-organized and have important resources. They are learning tactics and strategies,” she declared.
“It is very important that we, as progressives who want to see a just world and a better world, strengthen the locks, tighten them well, to ensure that we do not jeopardize the achievements of democracy everywhere.”
Ms. Stern’s mandate ended in January 2025 when Donald Trump took office, and her work is being dismantled.
Her last mission was to conduct evaluations of LGBTQ+ rights in 193 countries as part of the U.S. State Department’s annual human rights report. When these reports were published a few months later, all chapters dedicated to gender and sexual minorities had disappeared.
Ms. Stern stated that she believed Washington had also erased internal government documents on LGBTQ+ issues and feared that the Trump administration would share the names of activists with hostile governments or even fund conversion therapies.
“We are seeing a resurgence of threats against LGBTQI people around the world, but we are seeing a decrease in political will to defend them,” she argued.
A coordinated opposition movement.
For years, evangelical groups have been working to coordinate a transnational movement aimed at undermining LGBTQ+ rights globally, banning certain sexual acts, and restricting medical services for transgender people.
In recent years, this movement has shifted towards legal restrictions on expression and identity, such as a Ugandan law that criminalizes identifying as LGBTQ+ and punishes certain sexual acts with the death penalty.
The Trump administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the world’s largest aid organization with a budget of $40 billion, thus depriving millions of HIV-positive people of access to vital medication. Administration officials have also expressed support for far-right European political parties seeking to restrict LGBTQ+ rights.
The Dignity Network, a coalition of Canadian organizations advocating for sexual and gender minorities abroad, called on Ottawa to double its annual international aid funding for LGBTQ+ people to $20 million.
“This would have virtually no impact on Canada’s accounts, but it would position Canada as the leading government in the world,” Ms. Stern said, adding that Ottawa could also intensify its action against repressive laws.
“Canada can show leadership at this time. It can be a beacon of hope, speaking in multilateral forums,” she declared.
“The benefits will be enormous. Canada’s reputation will be enhanced. LGBTQI individuals will flourish. Their families will be happy. Human rights standards will be respected.”
The liberal government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney has cited human rights and civilian protection as one of the three pillars of its foreign policy. Mr. Carney has spoken in favor of LGBTQ+ rights and emphasized the importance of foreign aid, although he has reduced funding for global health programs such as HIV eradication.
The government has shifted its foreign aid policy from grants to collaboration with private capital, particularly by providing aid through business projects that create jobs in developing countries.
During a roundtable on Wednesday at the Civil Space Summit, Ms. Stern and Ms. Letsike both argued that defending LGBTQ+ rights contributes to building more productive economies.
“Fighting discrimination and violence is a good deal. Employees thrive when they know they can go to work safely,” Ms. Stern stated.
She added that activists have a duty to convince voters that foreign aid and human rights defense prevent global instability that jeopardizes economies.
“In every country, we must better explain foreign policy issues so that the average citizen understands the connection between gas prices, egg costs, and the decisions our governments make around the world,” she declared.
Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
