The U.S. State Department Replaces "LGBTQ+" with "LGB": A Dangerous Precedent for Restricting Gender Diversity

The Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO expresses deep concern over the legislative changes taking place at the international level that aim to limit the recognition of gender diversity. In recent years, restrictions targeting transgender, intersex, and queer individuals have evolved from isolated incidents into a coordinated political movement, posing a direct threat to fundamental human rights.

Quite recently, the U.S. State Department and other governmental bodies have replaced the term "LGBTIQ+" with "LGB" in official communications, effectively excluding transgender, intersex, and queer individuals from the international human rights agenda. This change:

• Reduces the visibility of these communities,
• Threatens their legal protections,
• Creates a precedent for other countries to tighten anti-gender movement and legislation.

The Global Expansion of Legislative Restrictions

In recent years, several countries have witnessed an increase in anti-gender legislative and political measures, deepening discrimination and restricting human rights.

Russia – 2023

• July 2023 – A law was passed banning gender-affirming medical treatments, legal gender changes on official documents, and marriage for transgender individuals.
• December 2023 – Further legal amendments prohibited transgender individuals from adopting children, significantly limiting their family rights.

Georgia – 2024

• May 2024 – The Georgian government passed the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence", increasing control over civil society, including organizations advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights.
• June 2024 – A new bill was introduced, making legal gender recognition nearly impossible without undergoing surgical intervention.

United States – 2025

• January 2025 – The U.S. State Department replaced the term "LGBTIQ+" with "LGB", meaning trans, intersex, and queer individuals are no longer included in the American foreign policy human rights agenda.
• February 2025 – Several states adopted laws restricting access to healthcare for transgender minors and banning their participation in educational and sports institutions.
• Expansion of restrictions on transgender individuals – Several states are revising policies on military service, education, and healthcare, significantly reducing the rights and protections available to transgender individuals.

February 2025 - U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that prohibits transgender women from participating in women's sports events at educational institutions.

Regional Impact

The growing trend of restricting the rights of trans, intersex, and queer individuals has a significant impact not only within these countries but also across other regions, including:

• An increase in intolerance in society, leading to more hate speech and violence against transgender individuals.
• Strengthening of pressure on civil society, endangering the work of organizations advocating for human rights.
• The spread of discriminatory legislative initiatives, undermining fundamental human rights values worldwide.

The Need for International Action

These developments show that this is not merely a series of isolated policies but a coordinated global movement that:

•  Is promoted by conservative political and religious forces,
•  Uses the same propaganda mechanisms to present gender diversity as a "threat to the traditional family",
•  Sets a precedent for the adoption of similar legal restrictions in other countries.

This situation endangers not only the rights of trans, intersex, and queer individuals but also democratic institutions and universal human rights principles.

Our Call to the International Community

 The global response must be firm and decisive, preventing these discriminatory legislative changes.
 Civil society must strengthen its cooperation to protect the rights of vulnerable groups.
 Efforts must be made to combat misinformation and hate speech, ensuring the dissemination of scientifically backed information.

Human rights protection must be a universal value that is not subject to political pressures or ideological conflicts. The recognition of trans, intersex, and queer individuals' rights is an integral part of democracy and the rule of law.

The Right Side NGO remains committed to supporting gender-diverse communities, promoting the rule of law, and fostering a more inclusive and equal society throughout the region and the world.

Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO