Kaleidoscope Trust launches Global Commission to Counter Rollback of LGBTI+ Rights

Kaleidoscope Trust, the UK-based global LGBTQ+ rights charity, has launched the Global Commission to Counter Rollback of LGBTI+ Rights, which is a time-limited, international initiative by the charity to confront the “alarming global rollback” of LGBTQ+ rights.

This independent commission will bring together experts, activists, and community voices from around the world to analyse current threats, understand root causes, and chart a path forward.

In a release, the charity said: “As Pride flags fly around the world this month, we chose this moment to not only celebrate but to sound the alarm. This year’s Pride Parliamentary Reception brought together diplomats, MPs, activists, and allies for a powerful evening that did more than mark Pride Month, it launched a new chapter in our fight for global LGBTI+ rights.” 

The evening reception opened with a welcome from Lord Nick Herbert, former UK Special Envoy on LGBTQ+ Rights and co-chair of the APPG for Global LGBT+ Rights, followed by remarks from Alex Farrow, CEO of Kaleidoscope Trust.

“Pride feels different this year,” Farrow told the room. “In 65 countries around the world, our lives, our identities, are criminalised. The anti-rights movement is coordinated, strategic, and, for now, winning.”

But the evening was also a call to action and celebration, as Farrow unveiled the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission.

The Commission, which will officially begin in October, will bring together activists, academics, diplomats, and community leaders from across the globe. Over 18 months, the Commission will investigate the drivers behind the rising backlash, produce strategic recommendations, and offer a roadmap for governments, civil society, and international institutions committed to reversing the trend.

“This Commission is both a research body and a rallying cry,” said Farrow. “It’s designed not only to understand where we are, but to help us get to where we must go.”

The announcement was accompanied by the premiere of a short film introducing the Commission’s vision. Farrow then welcomed its first Commissioner, Friedel Dausab, a Namibian activist, whose keynote speech underscored the urgency of coordinated international action.

The event concluded with remarks from Beth Dowling-Jones, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees at Kaleidoscope Trust, who reaffirmed the charity’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ rights globally and the need to keep these issues high on the agenda. 

Throughout the evening, speakers acknowledged the vital role of government support, particularly from the UK, Canada, Cyprus, and Australia, and the continuing importance of solidarity among the diplomatic, philanthropic, and activist communities.

Despite the gravity of the challenges ahead, the tone of the evening was one of determination, not despair.

“We all play different roles, but we are all needed,” said Farrow. “And we have a plan.”