Keynote at the 2023 Global Philanthropy Forum
Matthew Hart, Global Philanthropy Project Executive Director, delivered a keynote speech at this year’s Global Philanthropy Forum Conference.
Increasingly, far-right politicians fuel moral panics and defend “traditional and national” values as a winning strategy to attack democracy and the rule of law while demonizing many communities, including the LGBTIQ+ community. These strategies are intentional, and supported by a coalition of philanthropy, corporations, religious institutions, and wealthy individuals. But all is not lost. Funded by progressive donors, courageous LGBTIQ+ activists use indigenous wisdom, creative activism, and democratic processes to maintain and further human rights. Hear from on-the-ground change-makers about the growing connections between the fight for LGBTIQ+ rights and preserving democracy.
Photos courtesy of Katie Hultquist/Outright International.
Left to Right: Katie Hultquist, Frank Mugisha, Matthew Hart, D’Arcy Drollinger, Jennifer Lu, Nicholis Marshall, Roger Doughty
Left to Right 1st row: Roger Doughty, Jennifer Lu, Michael Heflin,Frank Mugisha
Left to Right 2nd row: Matthew Hart, Philip Yun
Left to Right: Roger Doughty, Jennifer Lu, Michael Heflin, Matthew Hart, Katie Hultquist, Frank Mugisha
Left to Right: D’Arcy Drollinger, Nicholis Marshall
Highlights from our Executive Director:
We found that over the 5-year period from 2013 to 2017, LGBTI movements worldwide received a total of $1.2 billion. In contrast, the top 10 anti-gender organizations received at least $3.7 billion – more than triple the funding of the LGBTI movement.
I want us to confront and rethink two orthodoxies. The first is that “bigotry and persecution facing LGBTI communities only impacts a minority of people”. The second is that, as a result, these issues are not a key focus area for philanthropists interested in impact at scale. I want to counter these misconceptions as we come to clarity about how gender and sexuality are front and center to so many current geopolitical contestations.
LGBTI communities received only 35 cents of every $100 philanthropic foundation funding and only 4 cents of every $100 of government development aid.
Political freedom and social transformation need all of us; there is much work ahead. Let’s reach toward the liberation of independence in bodily self-determination, freedom of movement, and freedom of association. While we also reach for each other in interdependence, connection, and solidarity.
About the 2023 Global Philanthropy Forum
The 2023 Global Philanthropy Forum, “Confronting Orthodoxies: Evolving Mindsets,” was held October 17-19 in San Francisco.
The Global Philanthropy Forum is a peer-learning network of philanthropists and social investors committed to advancing international causes. Through conferences, programs and matchmaking services, GPF seeks to build a community of philanthropists, and to inform, enable and enhance the strategic nature of its members’ giving and social investing.
Over two and a half days, GPF together innovators, philanthropic leaders, activists, donors of color, technologists and intellectuals to build a robust discussion about how to tackle problems that are truly global in nature, like climate change or pandemics. GPF explored different regional approaches (and lessons learned) to shared problems like gender inequality or Indigenous empowerment. GPF looked at new technologies, political and economic developments that are shaping our world and framing our opportunities. GPF also brought local activists to the forefront, helping bring to light ways to ensure that philanthropic resources can be directly used to support local communities and create sustainable impact that addresses both local and global challenges.