Building a bridge between ideas and practice.
The fight for LGBTQI+ dignity and equality has never been more urgent amid a deepening crisis of violence and discrimination.
The Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program is committed to making the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a reality for LGBTQI+ people worldwide.
We advance this mission by strengthening the global movement for LGBTQI+ equality by increasing the capacity of established and emerging leaders in every region; creating educational curricula on the essentials and advanced elements of LGBTQI+ movement building; facilitating the most current research into LGBTQI+ issues and movements; and advancing global collaboration and partnerships among activists, academics, policymakers, and the media.
A Field Catalyst Approach: Driving Systemic Change
As a field catalyst, we align, accelerate, and sustain the global movement for LGBTQI+ equality by ensuring that leaders, organizations, and allies have the knowledge, connections, and strategies needed to make a lasting impact. that this structural approach is one of the most effective ways to achieve long-term, systemic change We strengthen the entire field—filling critical gaps, building robust networks, and equipping movements with the tools necessary to achieve enduring progress.
Program Leadership
Mathias Risse
Faculty Director, Carr Center
Faculty Program Chair
Diego Garcia Blum
Program Director
"When you experience some kind of injustice in your life and in the world, you want to work to undo it."
We sat down with Diego Garcia Blum, Program Director of the Global LGBTQI+ Human Rights Program, to learn more about advancing the LGBTQI+ rights movement.
Program Pillars
- Training and Leadership Development. Our Online Program for LGBTQI+ Advocacy and Leadership creates a global learning hub where LGBTQI+ leaders and allies develop and refine strategies to ignite social movements and drive systemic change. Through our newly created Global LGBTQI+ Changemakers Network, participants engage with Harvard faculty, policymakers, and fellow activists through a structured curriculum that includes interactive online courses and in-person gatherings culminating in our capstone in-person International LGBTQI+ Activism Summit. By leveraging Harvard’s resources, we ensure that emerging and established leaders worldwide gain the knowledge, networks, and tools needed to advance LGBTQI+ rights.
- Research. Our research is driven by the priorities of activists and human rights practitioners, ensuring that our work directly supports advocacy efforts worldwide. We host Carr Center fellows throughout the year, providing them with opportunities to conduct research, audit classes, engage with faculty and experts, lead student study groups, and participate in learning opportunities at Harvard Kennedy School focused on LGBTQI+ topics. We regularly convene a global network of faculty and academic affiliates studying the LGBTQI+ rights movement to exchange research findings, enhance teaching, and collaborate on new initiatives that advance the movement.
- Convenings. These focus on LGBTQI+ issues and utilize the Carr Center’s convening power to raise awareness and drive important discussions for the global movement. They include public outreach initiatives such as podcasts, media convenings and other efforts on a range of digital and communication platforms to maximize impact and reach.
- Partnerships. We create opportunities for organizations and advocates to tap into Harvard’s extensive resources and talent. These may include Harvard-sponsored internships, partnerships for student research and thesis projects, and other collaborative initiatives that deepen the impact of LGBTQI+ advocacy around the world.
Key Initiatives
“The heart of this program is empowering and supporting the brave LGBTQI+ activists working in challenging and often perilous environments. Through our training and high-impact research, we aim to supercharge their efforts.”