Heartbreak as SA LGBTQ+ Groups Downsize Amid Trump’s Funding Cuts

Two prominent South African LGBTIQ+ organisations have been forced to drastically scale down their services and let go of dozens of staff members due to sweeping aid cuts by the United States government.

The devastating impact of these funding cuts—enacted through President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order—has left the sector reeling, putting the health and well-being of thousands at risk.

A Crushing Blow to LGBTIQ+ Health Services

This week, OUT LGBT Well-being and Access Chapter 2 released statements detailing the crisis, confirming that they will be significantly reducing their operations, with some offices shutting down completely.

OUT LGBT Well-being, South Africa’s second-oldest LGBTQ+ organisation, announced the official closure of its Engage Men’s Health programme, which has been instrumental in providing HIV-related services to men who have sex with men (MSM) in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the formal closure of OUT LGBT Well-being’s Engage Men’s Health programme on 31 March 2025. This follows an unexpected executive order by the United States President, which led to the cancellation of our funding from the American government,” said Dawie Nel, OUT’s Executive Director.

The organisation expressed gratitude for the support it has received through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for over a decade but lamented the abrupt and devastating consequences of this withdrawal.

“Through our programme, we helped 2,000 MSM stay on life-saving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and provided 4,000 clients with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV infection. With these services now ending, we fear that HIV will spread more rapidly and that many will struggle to access the care they need,” said Nel.

“To our clients, partners, and supporters—thank you for trusting us, standing by us, and being part of this journey. Your health matters. Your well-being matters. We urge you to continue prioritising your health and supporting one another,” he continued.

While the Engage Men’s Health programme is coming to an end, OUT LGBT Well-being will continue its work in other areas at a reduced scale, but it has pledged to explore new ways to serve the community.

“This may be the end of one chapter, but our commitment to LGBT+ health, dignity, and advocacy remains unshaken,” added Nel.

Access Chapter 2 Also Forced to Scale Down

Access Chapter 2 (AC2), an organisation known for its work in advancing the rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals, women, and girls, has also suffered significant setbacks due to the funding cuts.

“As you may be aware, the development sector across the globe is awry with funding-related complications as a direct result of recent policy changes in the United States of America,” said AC2’s Board Chairperson, Motlatsi Mkalala.

“Like many organisations, ours too has borne the brunt of these changes, compelling us to significantly scale down on our operations and unfortunately let go of many of our dedicated and passionate staff members.”

From 1 April 2025, AC2’s offices in the Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga will cease operations, leaving only a limited team operating from the organisation’s headquarters in Pretoria.

Despite the setback, AC2 remains determined to rebuild. “Be that as it may, we look forward to this new period as one that will enable us to dream of, reimagine, and indeed, work towards a reignited AC2,” said Mkalala.

However, they also warned that the crisis has dire implications for LGBTIQ+ individuals in South Africa, where access to healthcare, legal protection, and social services remains a battle. “Changing minds and changing laws takes time and does not occur in a vacuum. It remains critical that the work of organisations such as ours continues and remains sustained.”

In response to the statement on Facebook, Steve Letsike, AC2 founder and now Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, wrote: “Sad moments! But they don’t last. Dust yourself, and rebuild again.”

South African Government Has Yet to Step In

After years of relying on foreign aid to sustain critical LGBTIQ+ health and rights programmes for key populations, the cash-strapped South African government has so-far failed to step in to provide alternative funding.

This threatens to erase years of progress, potentially leading to increased HIV infections, stigma, and marginalisation of already vulnerable communities.

Both organisations have called for solidarity from allies, donors, and the wider LGBTIQ+ community to help them navigate this challenging period.

OUT LGBT Well-being and Access Chapter 2 have vowed to continue their advocacy, but without immediate intervention and sustainable funding, the future of life-saving LGBTIQ+ services in South Africa remains uncertain.