A new global report from Outright International reveals a troubling trend: politicians in at least 51 countries used homophobic or transphobic rhetoric during elections last year—ranging from attacking so-called “gender ideology” to framing LGBTQ+ identities as foreign threats.
The report warns of a coordinated, well-funded backlash against LGBTQ+ people, often led by far-right parties and authoritarian regimes. From the U.S. to Hungary to Ghana, queer and trans communities are being scapegoated during political campaigns.
Even so, there were signs of progress. LGBTQ+ candidates ran for office in 36 countries, including first-time runs in Botswana, Namibia, and Romania. In Brazil, the number of openly LGBTQ+ elected officials doubled to 233.
But the gains come at a cost. Trans and queer candidates faced relentless hate speech—online and in person. In the U.S. alone, Republican campaigns spent $200 million on anti-trans ads during the 2024 election cycle.
The message from Outright is clear: as LGBTQ+ visibility grows, so does the global backlash—and the fight for our rights is far from over.