U.S. Undermining Global LGBT Rights, HRW warns

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ Politics

LAS VEGAS — (February 8, 2026) — A new global human rights report from Human Rights Watch is raising serious concerns about the future of LGBTQ+ protections worldwide, warning that recent U.S. policies are accelerating a global decline in democracy and civil liberties.

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The organization’s annual World Report 2026 outlines what it describes as a growing “democratic recession,” in which authoritarian governments are expanding power while weakening institutions designed to protect vulnerable communities.

“The global human rights system is in peril,” wrote Human Rights Watch Executive Director Philippe Bolopion in the report’s introduction. “Longstanding safeguards are being dismantled at an alarming pace.”

According to the report, more than 70 percent of the world’s population now lives under authoritarian rule, with democratic backsliding observed not only in developing nations, but also in long-established democracies, including the United States.

U.S. Shift Raises International Alarm

Human Rights Watch notes that the United States, once viewed as a leading advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in international policy, has increasingly withdrawn from that role.

“The U.S. used to actively promote LGBTQ+ rights in diplomatic forums and international agreements,” Bolopion said during a press briefing announcing the report. “Today, we are seeing the opposite movement.”

The organization argues that recent domestic and foreign policy decisions have reduced protections for LGBTQ+ people while signaling diminished support for global human rights enforcement.

Domestic Policy Changes Impact LGBTQ+ Communities

The report details a series of federal actions that Human Rights Watch says have weakened safeguards for LGBTQ+ Americans, particularly transgender individuals.

These measures include:

Restricting the use of gender-inclusive language in government agencies
Narrowly defining sex based on birth assignment
Limiting access to gender-affirming healthcare for youth
Rolling back protections for transgender students
Reducing federal support for LGBTQ+ health programs

Human Rights Watch warns that such policies have created legal uncertainty and increased discrimination at state and local levels.

“Where democracy is undermined, so too are human rights,” the report emphasizes.

Cuts to Global LGBTQ+ Programs

In addition to domestic policy changes, the report highlights major reductions in U.S. funding for international health and human rights initiatives.

The shutdown of USAID-supported programs and the withdrawal from multiple United Nations agreements have significantly reduced support for HIV/AIDS prevention, community outreach, and LGBTQ+ advocacy overseas.

Human Rights Watch also points to the expansion of the Mexico City Policy, which now restricts funding linked to reproductive and gender-related health services.

“These cuts have weakened lifesaving programs in regions where LGBTQ+ people already face extreme risks,” the organization stated.

Authoritarian Governments Expand Restrictions

The report documents how governments in several countries have intensified crackdowns on LGBTQ+ communities, often with little international pushback.

Hungary

In Hungary, lawmakers amended public assembly laws in 2025 to ban Pride marches and LGBTQ+ demonstrations. The changes include financial penalties for participants and authorization for facial recognition technology to identify attendees.

Human Rights Watch warns that these measures have effectively criminalized peaceful LGBTQ+ visibility.

Russia

In Russia, authorities continue to enforce laws labeling the “international LGBT movement” as extremist.

The report details multiple prison and labor sentences imposed on individuals for displaying rainbow flags, sharing LGBTQ+ content online, or advocating for equal rights.

In 2025, Russia formally banned Human Rights Watch from operating within its borders, labeling the organization “undesirable.”

Foreign Policy and LGBTQ+ Rights

Human Rights Watch Washington Director Sarah Yager said the rollback of LGBTQ+ protections is not accidental.

“LGBTQ+ rights are not just collateral damage of foreign policy,” Yager stated. “They are increasingly treated as expendable.”

The organization argues that U.S. silence or reduced engagement has emboldened authoritarian leaders to further restrict civil liberties.

Democracy and Human Rights at a Crossroads

The report concludes that weakening democratic institutions directly threatens freedom of expression, political participation, and minority protections worldwide.

“When governments erode checks and balances,” Bolopion wrote, “the first victims are often marginalized communities.”

Human Rights Watch is urging renewed international cooperation, increased funding for human rights programs, and stronger diplomatic pressure on governments that target LGBTQ+ citizens.

JRL CHARTS will continue to deliver verified, in-depth coverage on global LGBTQ+ rights, political accountability, and civil liberties as part of its ongoing commitment to professional, independent journalism.