US Should Fund LGBT Rights Organizations in Central America - US Lawmakers

Six US Representatives said in a letter to USAID Acting Administrator Alfonso Lenhardt that the agency should financially support Central American organizations that fight for LGBT rights.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Agency for International Development (USAID) should financially support Central American organizations that fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, six US Representatives said in a letter to USAID Acting Administrator Alfonso Lenhardt.

“We write to urge you to use existing Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) funding to support organizations in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador that protect the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals,” the letter, released on Thursday, said.

CARSI’s main goal is to support communities affected by crime, the letter said. Given the levels of violence against LGBT communities in the region, organizations supporting LGBT human rights should receive CARSI funding.

“We all share the goal of wanting a more secure Northern Triangle region. In order to meet this goal, we must do much more to protect the sub-region’s most vulnerable populations, including the LGBT community,” the letter said.

The USAID 2015 CARSI funding is estimated at $55 million, according to the letter.

Honduras rights groups reported more than 90 LGBT-related killings between 2009 and 2012, according to the Human Rights Watch’s 2014 World Report.