World

In an upsetting move to many in the LGBTQ+ community, the United States has withdrawn from the United Nations LGBTI Core Group, a coalition of U.N. member states committed to supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ and intersex individuals worldwide. The move happened on February 14th. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said the move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader executive orders aimed at reshaping the U.S. government’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues.

The U.N. LGBTI Core Group, established in 2008, works to raise awareness about LGBTI rights, contribute to U.N. multilateral negotiations, and foster respectful and constructive dialogue among member states and stakeholders. Currently co-chaired by Chile and the Netherlands, the group includes countries such as Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, the U.K., and Uruguay, among others.

The U.S. decision to withdraw follows a series of actions by the Trump administration regarding LGBTQ+ policy. Despite the president’s earlier commitment to decriminalize homosexuality globally during his first term, critics have widely regarded the administration’s efforts as ineffective, labeling them a “sham.” This rhetoric was frequently used by the administration to counter accusations of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Throughout Trump’s tenure, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups raised concerns about his administration’s impact on rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender Americans. Executive orders from the president sought to reverse or limit transgender rights, including stripping government recognition of transgender people in certain contexts and pushing back against public expressions of LGBTQ+ culture, such as drag performances.

The decision to leave the U.N. LGBTI Core Group is another step in a series of policy changes that reflect the administration’s contentious stance on LGBTQ+ rights. While the U.S. had previously been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ equality in international settings, particularly through the LGBTI Core Group, this withdrawal signals a retreat from global LGBTQ+ advocacy.

The Core Group’s objectives, centered on promoting LGBTI rights at the United Nations and globally, will continue without the involvement of the United States, which had been a participant since its inception. As countries like the Netherlands, Canada, and the U.K. continue to champion LGBTI issues within the United Nations, the U.S. withdrawal raises questions about the future of international LGBTQ+ rights advocacy and the role of the U.S. on the global stage.

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