On February 14, the United States officially withdrew from the U.N. LGBTI Core Group, a coalition dedicated to protecting LGBTQ+ and intersex individuals worldwide. A State Department spokesperson confirmed the decision, marking yet another chilling step in the Trump-Vance administration’s full-scale assault on LGBTQ+ rights—both at home and abroad.
This isn’t just another policy shift. It’s a signal. A warning. A neon-lit message that the U.S. no longer prioritizes the human rights of queer people. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that when one marginalized group loses protections, others are next in line.
If You Think This Only Affects Trans People, Think Again
Some might brush this off as just another attack on trans rights. And yes, trans people are at the frontlines of this administration’s cruelty—bans on gender-neutral passports, restrictions on gender-affirming care, and efforts to erase trans people from public life entirely. But let’s be clear: this is not just about trans rights.
When trans rights are under attack, all LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. And beyond that, this pattern of authoritarian control expands to target people of color, women, disabled people, and anyone who dares to exist outside of rigid conservative ideals.
This is a historical playbook, one we’ve seen before. The government starts by targeting the smallest, most marginalized group, hoping others won’t notice. Then, once that precedent is set, the attacks expand. If they can erase trans people, what stops them from rolling back protections for gay and lesbian people? What stops them from stripping reproductive rights? What stops them from criminalizing queerness entirely?
The answer: nothing. Unless we fight back.
Why This Move is So Dangerous
By withdrawing from the U.N. LGBTI Core Group, the U.S. is making it clear that queer lives are expendable. And that has real, devastating consequences.
Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people are rising, and this withdrawal only emboldens anti-queer extremists—both here and abroad. Suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth are already disproportionately high due to stigma and discrimination. This decision tells queer people, especially young ones, that their government doesn’t care if they live or die.
The U.N. Core Group has been instrumental in shaping international protections against LGBTQ+ discrimination in employment, healthcare, and housing. With the U.S. backing out, anti-queer forces at home will push even harder to strip those rights away.
And let’s not forget: this isn’t just about domestic policy. This decision will cost lives worldwide. Many LGBTQ+ organizations operating in hostile countries rely on U.S. support. Cutting those ties leaves queer people more vulnerable to violence, imprisonment, or worse.
A Global Retreat from Human Rights
The U.S. withdrawal from this group doesn’t just betray its own LGBTQ+ citizens—it’s a devastating blow to global human rights. This administration has already frozen most foreign aid, which activists describe as catastrophic for LGBTQ+ communities worldwide. Now, by stepping away from international LGBTQ+ advocacy, the U.S. is sending a dangerous message: queer lives don’t matter.
And other countries will follow suit. Nations that criminalize LGBTQ+ people will feel further emboldened. U.S. embassies are already banned from flying Pride flags, stripping away even symbolic support for LGBTQ+ people in oppressive regimes.
For decades, the U.S. has positioned itself as a leader in global human rights (albeit imperfectly). This withdrawal makes it crystal clear: that era is over.
Why Even Conservatives Should Be Alarmed
If you consider yourself a true conservative—one who believes in personal freedom, small government, and individual rights—this move should infuriate you.
The Trump administration’s attacks on LGBTQ+ rights aren’t about “limited government”—they’re about expanding government control over people’s identities, bodies, and private lives.
This erodes American values. Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” This administration is proving him right.
It’s also a threat to everyone’s rights. If the government can erase protections for LGBTQ+ people, what stops them from doing the same to other marginalized communities? The answer: nothing.
Even Barry Goldwater, a conservative icon, understood this when he famously said, “You don’t need to be straight to fight and die for your country. You just need to shoot straight.” The real conservative position is one that defends individual freedoms—not strips them away.
What Straight Americans Need to Understand
This isn’t just an LGBTQ+ issue. This is about the government normalizing discrimination—and when that happens, no one is safe.
If LGBTQ+ rights can be erased this quickly, what’s stopping other groups from losing protections next? Civil rights aren’t just magically permanent—they survive because people fight for them. And right now, they’re under attack.
And let’s talk economics—because, yes, this decision even screws up the economy. Research from institutions like the Williams Institute and Pew Research Center shows that LGBTQ+ inclusion boosts economies. Countries that protect queer rights are safer, more stable, and more innovative. By backing out of global LGBTQ+ advocacy, the U.S. is actively harming its own social and economic future.
What Can We Do?
If you’re reading this and feeling helpless, don’t. That’s exactly what they want. Instead, stay informed. Pay attention to policy changes. Call them out. Share this information. Vote like your life depends on it—because for many, it does. Support candidates who are committed to protecting human rights. Donate to LGBTQ+ organizations that are fighting on the front lines. Refuse to be silent. Silence enables oppression. Speak up, especially if you have privilege that allows you to do so safely.
The U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. LGBTI Core Group isn’t just about LGBTQ+ rights—it’s about the systematic dismantling of democracy, human dignity, and civil liberties.
We’ve seen this story before. And if we don’t fight back, we know exactly how it ends.
