Welcome to the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission FAQ
This FAQ outlines the Commission’s purpose, goals, structure, and opportunities for engagement. Whether you’re an ally, advocate, policymaker, or community member, we invite you to explore how this campaign is working to protect and advance LGBTI+ rights globally- and how you can be part of it.
1. What is the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission?
The Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission is a new time-bound international initiative launched by Kaleidoscope Trust in response to the escalating global rollback of LGBTI+ rights. Structured as a think tank commission, this policy campaign will bring together a diverse panel of experts, activists, and community members from across the world to analyse the current crisis, reflect on its causes, and develop clear, actionable recommendations.
Ultimately, the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission is both a research body and a rallying cry: a campaign to understand how we got here, what can be done now, and where we as a global LGBTI+ movement must go next.
2. What are the Commission’s core goals or mandates?
This Commission has been created to help us and the movement address a complex global challenge. The erosion of LGBTI+ rights is happening across legal, cultural, and geopolitical lines. The Commission seeks to unpack this issue by:
- Bringing together diverse voices to ensure our findings are informed by lived experience as well as thematic expert insight.
- Influence policy by producing working papers and a final report offering a strategic global roadmap to inform the policy priorities of governments and international institutions seeking to defend and advance global human rights.
- Amplify stories and voices from across the community who are not in a position to speak out freely and safely. Through storytelling, testimony, and engagement, the Commission is not just about policy–it’s about supporting a global movement.
3. Is this Commission affiliated with a government or the United Nations?
No, the Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission is not affiliated with any government or the United Nations. It is an independent civil society-led initiative. While some Commission participants may work within or alongside governments, international institutions, or multilateral bodies, the Commission itself is not officially connected to any of them. This independence ensures that it can take a bold, honest, and community-centred approach to addressing the global rollback of LGBTI+ rights.
4. Who are the members of the Commission?
Commissioners and members of the advisory council and specialist working groups will be announced in September 2025. A call for registrations of interest to join these groups will launch in July, ensuring an open and equitable selection process. To be notified, please sign up to our newsletter for more details.
Regardless of appointments to these formal roles, the Commission will continue to offer opportunities throughout the campaign for individuals and organisations to share their stories, expertise, and to contribute. This inclusive approach will help ensure that voices from across the globe and across diverse LGBTI+ communities are represented.
5. How can someone apply or be nominated to join the Commission in the future?
A call for registrations of interest to join the Commission’s advisory council and specialist working groups will open in July 2025. Interested individuals and organisations can apply through this open process. Additionally, the Commission welcomes ongoing involvement from the wider community, so there will be ways to engage beyond formal membership. Keep an eye on Kaleidoscope Trust’s social media channels for new announcements and sign up to our newsletter for more details.
6. What topics will the Commission focus on?
The Commission is dedicated to responding to the urgent global rollback of LGBTI+ rights. Its work will concentrate on key areas where rights are being threatened, including, but limited to: criminalisation of LGBTI+ identities, the weaponisation of trans rights (such as bans on legal gender recognition and healthcare access), censorship and repression of activism, cuts to international aid and the role of international institutions, as well as steps that can be taken to counter the rising hate crimes and violence faced by community members.
By focusing on these critical issues, the Commission aims to develop coordinated, strategic responses to protect and advance LGBTI+ rights worldwide in the face of growing challenges.
7. How will the Commission conduct its work (e.g., hearings, country visits, consultations)?
The Commission will work through three main approaches. First, it will produce working papers on key issues, which will be shared for public consultation through a process similar to the green paper/white paper model used by many governments. A green paper is an initial discussion document inviting feedback and debate, while a white paper presents a more developed set of proposals based on that feedback. This process allows individuals and organisations to respond directly to the papers or submit their own evidence and insights, all of which will be acknowledged and credited. The full list of working paper topics will be published in the autumn.
Second, the Commission seeks to amplify, rather than duplicate, the important work already being done by organisations, activists, and communities around the world. Recognising that countless groups are actively advocating for LGBTI+ rights, conducting research, providing support, and driving policy change, the Commission aims to complement and support these existing efforts. Rather than reinventing the wheel, it will listen closely to the insights and expertise of those already on the front lines, ensuring that its findings and recommendations are informed by and connected to ongoing initiatives.
Finally, we believe it is important to lead with our humanity and recognise that, while we are all part of a global movement, we remain people first and foremost. The Commission will create a safe listening space for individuals to share their personal stories and experiences to the extent they wish. This combination of research, consultation, and storytelling ensures the Commission’s work is inclusive, transparent, and grounded in real-world voices.
8. Will the Commission issue reports, recommendations, or legal opinions?
The Commission will produce detailed reports and recommendations based on its research and consultations to guide policymakers, activists, and organisations in responding to the global rollback of LGBTI+ rights. However, it will not issue legal opinions. Many other organisations do this very important work already. Our focus is on gathering evidence, amplifying voices, and providing strategic policy recommendations, rather than offering formal legal advice.
9. How long will the Commission run–what is its timeline?
The Commission is planned to run for 18 months, starting in October 2025. Setting a clear, time-bound framework is important because it allows for focused, intensive work that can produce meaningful analysis, recommendations, and action within a manageable period. This timeframe ensures momentum is maintained, while also providing enough space to conduct thorough consultations. A defined timeline will help us stay accountable, deliver results promptly, and adapt as needed in a rapidly changing environment.
10. Can individuals or organisations submit evidence or testimonies to the Commission?
Yes. The Commission encourages individuals and organisations to submit evidence, testimonies, and insights. Whether responding to working papers during the consultation phases or sharing personal stories in the dedicated listening sessions, contributions from the global LGBTI+ community and allies are vital. All submissions will be credited in accordance to your preference while taking into account safety and privacy precautions.
11. How can individuals, especially in repressive countries, engage safely?
We are deeply aware of the risks faced by activists working under repressive conditions. To support safe engagement, we will offer confidential and secure channels for sharing stories and evidence, allowing participants to contribute anonymously or at a level of privacy they are comfortable with.
12. Will the Commission host public hearings or consultations?
Yes. The Commission will hold consultations as part of its process, inviting feedback on working papers and creating opportunities for individuals and organisations to contribute their insights. While these will not take the form of formal public hearings, the consultations will be inclusive and designed to encourage wide participation–both through written submissions and listening spaces.
Instead of formal public hearings, the Commission will be hosting ongoing virtual events and roundtables as part of its consultation process. These events will aim to provide accessible, inclusive spaces for individuals and organisations to share their insights, ask questions, and engage directly with the Commission’s work. These virtual gatherings will also help ensure diverse voices from across the global LGBTI+ community are heard and included throughout the Commission’s process.
13. How can I share my story with the Commission?
Details on how to submit your story will be shared through Kaleidoscope Trust’s website, so keep an eye out for announcements. If you would like to be notified directly, please sign-up to our newsletter.
14. Is the Commission independent? Who oversees it?
The Commission is an independent, civil society-led initiative. Our work will be overseen by our commissioners (the full list will be announced in the Northern Hemisphere autumn) and additional support will be provided by an advisory council composed of diverse experts, activists, and stakeholders from across the globe.
15. Will Commission documents and findings be made public?
Yes. The Commission is committed to transparency and will make its key documents, working papers, reports, and findings publicly available. Sharing this information openly ensures that the wider community, policymakers, and allies can access the insights and recommendations that emerge, helping to inform advocacy, strategy, and action to protect and advance LGBTI+ rights.
16. What measures are in place to protect the safety of those engaging with the Commission?
We take the safety and security of all participants very seriously, especially for those from regions where LGBTI+ identities are criminalised, heavily stigmatised or repressed. To protect individuals and organisations engaging with the Commission, we are committed to ensuring:
- Confidential and secure channels for sharing information and stories, allowing participants to remain anonymous if they choose.
- Strong digital security policies to safeguard data and communications.
- Collaboration with trusted experts who have expertise in protecting individuals and vulnerable communities.
We believe these measures will support individuals to contribute in a way that respects their privacy and minimises potential risks.
17. How will the Commission address LGBTI+ rights in countries where homosexuality is criminalised?
Good work is already taking place by individuals and organisations challenging criminalisation around the world, and the Commission does not aim to replace or duplicate these efforts. Instead, it provides an additional, safe channel for people and groups leading this fight in their own countries to share their evidence, experiences, and stories. By amplifying these voices and connecting them to a broader global platform, the Commission supports and strengthens the ongoing struggle for LGBTI+ rights in the most challenging contexts.
18. What support can the Commission provide to at-risk communities or individuals?
The Commission itself is not able to provide direct support or services to at-risk communities or advocates. Instead, its role is to gather evidence, amplify voices, and produce evidence and recommendations that can inform and strengthen the work of organisations and individuals already providing on-the-ground support and conducting critical work.
19. Will the Commission make country-specific recommendations?
The Commission’s main focus is on identifying global trends and challenges in the fight against the rollback of LGBTI+ rights. However, where working papers or opportunities arise, sub-working papers may be commissioned from in-country experts to produce or highlight their own country-specific recommendations. The Commission is committed to ensuring it does not overshadow or duplicate national voices, recognising the importance of supporting and amplifying the expertise and leadership of those working directly within their communities.
20. How will the Commission’s work reach global decision-makers?
The Commission’s findings and recommendations will be shared widely through Kaleidoscope Trust’s established networks and advocacy channels. Building on Kaleidoscope Trust’s proven track record of influencing governments, international institutions, and policymakers, the Commission aims to ensure its work reaches key decision-makers who can drive meaningful change.
Additionally, the advisory council–comprising experts, advocates, and leaders from around the world–will be supported by the Commission’s materials to advocate effectively within their own spheres of influence. We believe this approach maximises the impact of the Commission’s work in shaping global policies.
The Global LGBTI+ Rights Commission is more than a research initiative, it’s a collective call to action. At a time when rights are under threat, we believe that analysis, dialogue, and collaboration are more important than ever. We are committed to ensuring that this Commission reflects the diversity, resilience, and leadership of the global LGBTI+ movement. We invite you to stay connected, share your story, and help shape a future where dignity, equality, and human rights are protected for all.