The anti-gender and anti-rights movement is a loosely connected set of groups and money, sometimes working in tandem with governments, who are looking to claw back LGBTQI+ rights and abortion rights that have been realized around the world. Bierne Roose-Snyder, Senior Policy Fellow for the Council for Global Equality, sits down to talk with us about how these movements came to be and the danger they pose to human rights and democratic systems. 

The anti-gender and anti-rights movement simultaneously works on a global and domestic scale. Misinformation and information flooding has contributed greatly to the anti-gender and anti-rights movement, undermining expertise and civil society, and creating a world in which no factual information can be trusted. From a domestic perspective, this can be very closely intertwined with authoritarian and anti-democratic movements. In a move to diminish civil society, the anti-gender movement will often target organizations that promote or support LGBTQI+ rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, or other human rights—whether through formal complaints or targeted harassment and abuse. For example, in Uganda, the anti-gender government targeted Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), a Kampala-based LGBTQI+ human rights nonprofit. Similarly, Boston Children’s Hospital has faced an extreme increase of threats and harassment for providing gender-affirming healthcare. 

The sexual and reproductive health and rights movement and the LGBTQI+ movement are being out funded by the anti-gender, anti-rights movement at incredible rates. In addition, U.S. religious institutions are not required to report their funding activities. Between 2013 and 2017, LGBTQI movements worldwide received 1.2 billion dollars in funding, while the anti-gender movement received 3.7 billion in funding. 

Links

Council for Global Equality on Twitter

Council for Global Equality on Facebook

Power Over Rights – Center for Feminist Foreign Policy

Rights at Risk – Observatory on the Universality of Rights

Exporting Disinformation - Mozilla Foundation

Manufacturing Moral Panic – Global Philanthropy Project 

Take Action

Follow theCouncil for Global Equality on Twitter and Facebook to stay up-to-date on their important work. 

Early, loud, visible mobilization for solidarity is incredibly powerful against the anti-gender and anti-rights movements. Hope-based messaging—highlighting what we work for and the world we are building—allows for greater reach and momentum. 

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