FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caribbean Equality Movement Leaders Chart Collaborative Sustainability Framework
Kingston, Jamaica – April 2, 2025
CariFLAGS and ILGA-NAC convened a gathering of regional-level stakeholders within the Caribbean equality movement: LGBTQI+ civil society leaders, independent experts, and development agencies as observers, in Kingston, Jamaica, from March 27th to 29th, 2025 in response to the rapidly changing operating environment.
The meeting served as a moment to pause and recognize that funding reduction and/or discontinuation have and continue to demonstrate a deleterious effect on actors engaged in the LGBTQ+ equality and human rights movement, and they noted that key advocacy and movement-building efforts are at risk due to global funding cuts and affirmed that things cannot operate as “business as usual” recognising the need to move away from competition and transactional institutional relations to collaboration and partnership based on mutual values. In this spirit, participants worked assiduously to develop a sustainable, regional-driven strategy that focuses on collaboration to ensure the continued progress of LGBTQI+ rights in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean LGBTQ+ movement is at a critical moment in time. The data has shown that projects once supported by key international partners are now facing severe cutbacks, affecting advocacy programs, and community-led initiatives across the region. “With what is currently taking place globally, we should anticipate negative implications for the lives and well-being of our communities, as well as the work that we’ve been doing all of these years. This meeting is critical because it provides an opportunity for us to stop being reactive and figure out how to be proactive as a collective,” said Sharon Mottley, Regional Program Manager, ILGA NAC.
Continuously making efforts to strengthen the alignment and coordination among partners, collaborators and stakeholders was a key outcome of the meeting and participants readily contributed to the development of a “PACT” which will guide their renewed commitment to partnership.“This meeting was not just about identifying problems — it was a strategic moment for us to chart actionable steps,” said Lucien Govaard, CariFLAGS Chair.“ I am confident that as we leave Kingston, the movement has a more synergistic approach, which is responsive to the demands of the moment we find ourselves in and sufficiently agile to navigate future dynamics on our collective journey towards building a sustainable and resilient movement.”
We are grateful to all who contributed to this pivotal gathering and more so for their collective commitment to advancing human rights, fostering resilience, and ensuring the sustainability of our regional LGBTQ+ movements.
About CariFLAGS
The Caribbean Forum for Liberation and Acceptance of Genders and Sexualities (CariFLAGS) is the legitimate voice of the Caribbean regional LGBTQ+ movement. We are a coalition of civil society groups dedicated to regional movement building and networking. Since its founding in 1997, CariFLAGS has provided leadership in articulating an indigenous lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) voice and agenda for the Caribbean. CariFLAGS is the Pan-Caribbean LGBTQ+ movement that increases synergy and participation of groups across the region as an effective collective.
w: cariflags.org | @cariflags – Instagram
About ILGA-NAC
ILGA NAC brings a tailored advocacy and support framework that respects and addresses the specific challenges faced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities in both North America and the Caribbean. This transition strengthens ILGA-NAC’s capacity to champion the rights and well-being of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals across a broader and more diverse geographic area, ensuring inclusive and effective advocacy efforts.
w: ilganac.org
Media Contact
Dane Lewis; Regional Programme Manager | [email protected]