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New York, NY, June 23, 2022 —  As Pride Month commemorations continue around the world, the ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) warns of the urgent needs that the LGBTQ+ community faces in northern Central America, identified among the population currently participating in its programming in the region. 

Meg Galas, Director for Northern Central America at the ̽����ѡ said:

“People in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras face rapidly increasing challenges, like economic slowdowns that make it difficult to meet their most basic needs. At the same time, all three countries are facing the impact of climate change and rising levels of violence—including gender-based violence, which especially puts LGBTQ+ people, women and children at risk.

“LGBTQ+ people are in so much danger that they are often forced to leave their homes and families behind to try to save their lives. For instance, more than suffered a violent death in Honduras between 2009 and 2021, while in El Salvador, expressed they have experienced violence according to a recent report. 

“Understanding the current context of gender-based violence—and especially the impact on the LGBTQ+ community—is critical. In collaboration with all sectors and with support from the international community, we must all design and implement an improved response that helps people be safe in their home countries.”

According to data from ̽����ѡ programs in northern Central America in 2021 and 2022, the LGBTQ+ population experiences critical needs that include access to:

• Safe spaces. The ̽����ѡ works with national NGO partners to create safe spaces for women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community. These safe spaces offer access to services and information, engagement with trained staff and create opportunities to build community networks. ̽����ѡ data show that 50% of safe space users were forced to leave their homes due to violence because of their identity, and 40% live away from their family due to discrimination. The ̽����ѡ is currently supporting nine safe spaces in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador; four of these safe spaces are dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, having provided services for more than 1,300 people to date. 
• Emergency cash relief. The ̽����ѡ responds to people in crisis with cash support for  basic needs such as food, medicine or safe shelter. Cash is a proven strategy to offer support to people in need. Half of the LGBTQ+ people who received cash relief from ̽����ѡ are survivors of gender-based violence; 35% expressed they were experiencing food insecurity; and 13% had been affected by natural disasters. 
• Trustworthy information and direct support. Nearly 10% of the crisis cases that ̽����ѡ’s moderators received have been members of the LGBTQ+ community. ���é�Գٲ����Dz� is an information and service referral platform—part of the global project—that connects people in crisis to social services, using two-way communication with trained moderators. ���é�Գٲ����Dz� provides referrals to more than 350 service providers throughout northern Central America, including specialized services for the LGBTQ+ populations.  

The ̽����ѡ in northern Central America

Today, the ̽����ѡ serves individuals and families at increased risk of violence and displacement, including internally displaced individuals, returnees, women, girls, youth, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are survivors of gender-based violence. The ̽����ѡ’s programming in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras includes multi-purpose cash transfers to cover basic needs; the creation of safe spaces for women, youth and the LGBTQ+ community; case management and psychosocial support; and .