Every year, June is celebrated as LGBTI Pride Month. During this month, we honor the contributions LGBTI people have made to the world as we know it today, and raise awareness of the injustices LGBTI people continue to face due to their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Violence, discrimination, stigma, and exclusionary laws negatively impact the lives of millions of LGBTI people around the world and contribute to poverty. LGBTI people face criminalization in over 70 countries - several of which can impose the death penalty - and anti-LGBTI violence can be life-threatening.

As President Trump stated, we "stand in solidarity with the many LGBT people who live in dozens of countries worldwide that punish, imprison, or even execute individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation."

USAID is proud to support the human rights of LGBTI people through the integration of inclusion and nondiscrimination principles into our policies and programming, and through programs that specifically address anti-LGBTI violence, discrimination, stigma, and criminalization.

On behalf of USAID, I wish you a safe and happy LGBTI Pride Month.