The Global Demand for LBQ Women’s Economic Empowerment
- Deborah Iroegbu
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Visibility is a powerful catalyst for change, but visibility without resources often leaves our communities vulnerable. At LesbianGlobal, we believe deeply that economic power is safety, choice, and dignity.
As we shared in our initial launch announcement, we partnered with Outright International to create the LesbianGlobal Economic Empowerment Fund. Our goal was clear: to move resources directly to LBQ+ women whose leadership is already transforming their communities.
Today, we are thrilled to announce a major milestone. On April 20, 2026, Outright International and LesbianGlobal officially welcomed 13 partner organizations into our inaugural program.
However, the application process also revealed a stark reality about the sheer scale of the need globally.
The Overwhelming Need for LBQ Women’s Economic Empowerment
Currently, a mere 5% of global LGBTI funding is specifically directed toward LBQ+ communities. When external funding for LGBTI human rights grew scarce—exacerbated by the abrupt severing of U.S. government funding for inclusive development at the start of 2025—we knew we had to step up.
In December 2025, an invitation-only call for proposals was sent to 150 alumnae of Outright’s LBQ Connect program and trusted partners across the Global South and East.
The response was staggering: Outright received 70 applications from 39 countries. This overwhelming response confirms the urgency of the issue. Economic exclusion remains one of the most persistent challenges facing our communities, driven by widespread discrimination, lack of protective laws, and exclusion from traditional financial institutions.
What the Data Taught Us About LBQ Women’s Economic Empowerment
The proposals gave us a profound look into the realities LBQ women face on the ground and how local organizations are already building creative, integrated solutions. Across the 70 applications, several clear themes emerged regarding effective LBQ women's economic empowerment:
Financial Independence as Protection: Organizations across the board emphasized that economic autonomy reduces vulnerability to violence, coercion, and abusive situations.
The Rise of Entrepreneurship: With traditional workplaces often clouded by bias, 53 organizations highlighted specific barriers to sustaining businesses, while 43 included business development or incubation in their proposals.
Digital Livelihoods:
Technology is opening new doors. 54 proposals identified digital livelihoods (like remote work and online sales) as a key opportunity, and 37 included concrete interventions for digital skills training.
Community Infrastructure: Financial investment must be paired with safe spaces. We see this beautifully illustrated by our partners on the ground. In Kenya, Utopia Network is building the safe spaces necessary for LBQ+ women to venture into entrepreneurship confidently. In Nigeria, the Women in Innovation and Tech Initiative (WITI) is nurturing a collaborative community of LBQ+ social entrepreneurs and tech workers.
We also saw unique regional approaches. While Sub-Saharan Africa (41 proposals) focused heavily on balancing livelihood support with physical safety, Latin America and the Caribbean (15 proposals) emphasized economic mobility tools like seed funding. In Asia (6 proposals), there was a strong pivot toward digital and remote work to bypass intense social conservatism.
Invest in the Future: Scale LBQ Women’s Economic Empowerment
This fund is more than a single initiative; it is a model for what is possible when we trust and resource LBQ+ women. The leadership exists. The solutions exist. What has been missing is scale.
We were able to welcome 13 incredible partners, but the 70 applications we received demonstrate that global demand for LBQ women's economic empowerment far outpaces the resources currently available.
By investing in the economic autonomy of LBQ+ women, you are investing in protection from violence and the long-term sustainability of our movements. We invite our donors and allies to help us bridge this gap. Together, we can turn survival into self-determination and leadership into lasting change.
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