The visibility of the LGBTQI community, symbolically or otherwise, as well as ally- ship, in the public sphere has decreased in the region. This directly correlates to the decrease of access to services and harmful impacts on the state of civil society, exemplified in case studies below. While this has clear human rights implications, it also has far reaching economic ramifications as individuals forego essential services, faces barriers when attempting to access education and employment opportunities, and frequently lose essential family safety nets and support. This is further compounded by one’s race, migration status, and other intersecting identities.
