The Global Rise of Anti-LGBTQ Laws (Part Two)

The Global Rise of Anti-LGBTQ Laws (Part Two)

From This Way Out: The International LGBTQ Radio Magazine by Overnight Productions, Inc.

May 12, 2026 · 29 min

About this episode

This episode explores the global rise of anti-LGBTQ laws and their impact on public health and safety for queer communities.

In part two of her series on the global rise of anti-LGBTQ laws, This Way Out’s Ebony Joseph explores how criminalization and political hostility are creating a growing public health crisis for queer communities worldwide. Advocates say laws targeting LGBTQ people not only fuel stigma and violence, but also discourage people from seeking HIV prevention, mental health care, and other essential services. The report highlights countries where fear of arrest or public exposure keeps people from accessing clinics, while anti-LGBTQ rhetoric increasingly spreads from government policy into everyday life. The story also examines the impact of the Trump administration’s cuts to U.S. foreign aid programs, including the dismantling of USAID and restrictions on funding tied to “gender ideology.” Former USAID officials and global health advocates warn that the loss of support for LGBTQ-focused HIV outreach programs could have devastating consequences, especially in countries where queer people already face criminalization. Despite growing hostility, organizers and activists continue building local networks of care and resistance, insisting that queer and trans lives deserve dignity, safety…

People in this episode

Host: Ebony Joseph

Topics covered

  • anti-LGBTQ laws
  • public health crisis
  • HIV prevention
  • mental health care
  • political hostility
  • queer communities
  • activism

Keywords

  • anti-LGBTQ
  • criminalization
  • public health
  • HIV outreach
  • mental health
  • activism
  • Trump administration
  • Botswana
  • USAID

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USAID, Trump administration

Places: Botswana, United States

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