In recent years, the UK government has taken steps to support LGBT+ inclusion in international development. One key example is the "Strong in Diversity—Bold on Inclusion" project, launched in 2019 to support LGBT+ rights in five African cities. This project involved partnerships with several organisations, such as the Coalition of African Lesbians and Kaleidoscope Trust. However, the project's future was affected by significant political and economic changes, including Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the government reassessed its priorities, the project didn't receive further funding, reflecting broader issues with how Western governments handle LGBT+ development. The UK’s approach, particularly under the right-wing leadership of Boris Johnson, saw cuts to international aid instead of exploring other options like taxing the wealthy. This decision aligns with the neoliberal and nationalist ideologies shaping the government’s approach to international politics.
The article uses this case to propose a more complex framework for understanding how and why governments support LGBT+ development. It argues that a mix of political, economic, and ideological factors, such as populism and risk management, influence these decisions. To fully grasp the reasons behind funding decisions for LGBT+ projects, we need to consider not just economic pressures like those from COVID-19, but also the broader political ideologies at play.
Dr Matthew Waites added “The LGBT+ development project Strong in Diversity Bold on Inclusion involved me in extensive work with African LGBTIQ+ activists and researchers, including colleagues at University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights. I learnt much about African sexualities and genders through leading the research team’s literature review. When the project’s main phase was cancelled in the context of UK international aid cuts and COVID-19, because LGBT work was not defined among new priority areas, the project consortium felt much hard work in the co-creation phase was wasted. I hope my open access article in International Politics can enable lessons to be learned by various actors, including in the UK government.”
Ready the full study on Springer.
First published: 18 October 2024
