A staff member who was let go by a Cameroonian LGBTQ+ organization following the U.S. aid cuts said: “The project I was part of has been suspended since Donald Trump did the things he did. Things have become very difficult. I no longer have a salary, I don’t work anymore, I lost my home because I can’t pay my rent, and I am living at a shelter. Even to eat, it is difficult because I am unemployed. When I am sick, I cannot afford to take care of myself.”
Date: 7/25
Region: Africa
Country: Cameroon
Topic: Gender Equality & Inclusion, Economy & Livelihoods
Policy Lens: Global Health Security
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This quote was collected by Human Rights Watch, or HRW, in an interview with a representative from the organization who chose to remain anonymous. The organization reached about 2,000 LGBTQ+ people with its programs, and lost about $300,000, or 40%, of its funding due to U.S. cuts. The organization admitted to contemplating the closure of one of its regional offices, although further developments have yet to be confirmed.
The head of the organization expressed concerns regarding permanent capacity issues with the loss of experienced staff forced out of the sector who may not return even if future funding is later secured. They also mentioned years of relationship-building with government officials on key population protection as being undone.
Devex Researcher Note: Cameroon has aggressive anti-homosexuality laws, which are regularly enforced, leading to up to five years of imprisonment for those who engage in same-sex relations. This already hostile environment adds a further layer of difficulty for LGBTQ+ people seeking care for HIV and other STIs, to which they are disproportionately vulnerable.
Source: Human Rights Watch