New Biden Policy Ties Foreign Poor to Gender Ideology

By | August 11, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 11 (C-Fam) The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has released its first LGBTQI+ Inclusive Development Policy, the purpose of which is to spread controversial gender ideology through foreign assistance. The policy also refers to “comprehensive sexuality education” and “reproductive rights,” which are widely understood to include abortion in addition to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Critics expressed concern about tying this controversial agenda to crucial foreign assistance to poor countries. Max Primorac of the Heritage Foundation condemned the Biden administration for the “gross misuse” of international aid. He charges that the U.S. government is prioritizing its social agenda, from gender ideology to aggressive climate action, while risking aggravating poverty in Africa.

Primorac argued against “tying future lifesaving aid to forcing Africans to abandon their traditional family values,” which he called irresponsible and a danger to national security.

The policy was formally launched at an event featuring USAID administrator Samantha Power.  She discussed the agency’s support for LGBTQ+ rights as well as the challenges marginalized groups face as a result of recent anti-democratic movements around the world, saying, “What we see is attacks on minorities, generally — sometimes religious minorities, sometimes LGBTQI+ communities,” and referred to minority groups as “often the canary in the coal mine” when democracy is threatened.

Also at the event was Jay Gilliam, USAID’s Senior LGBTQI+ Coordinator, who previously worked for the anti-Christian Human Rights Campaign (HRC) who called USAID’s new policy a roadmap for advocating LGBTQI+ inclusion internationally. In it, USAID stressed that locally driven LGBTQ-inclusive development improves lives, economies, and democracies, acting as a model for incorporating LGBTQ-identified people into the agency’s on-the-ground activities.

The policy replaces USAID’s 2014 “LGBT Vision for Action,” which was launched during the Obama administration.  While the earlier policy included a glossary of terms, the updated version relies more on vague language, reflecting the speed with which terms related to these issues are introduced and replaced: “USAID recognizes that language is dynamic and evolves.”

USAID’s stated commitment to spread concepts of gender identity around the world that remain highly contested at home is raising question from some lawmakers about future funding for the agency. The same week as the LGBTQI+ policy was launched, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) introduced legislation to defund (USAID). He accused the agency of pushing a “radical, leftist ideology” that includes “supporting abortion, gender equity programs, and climate alarmism” rather than assisting people in developing countries and spreading democracy. Gaetz stated that USAID lacked a genuine function and “is used as a slush fund for international wokeism,” and he urged strong legislative support to fully eliminate the organization.

USAID was established in 1961 by an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy, and is tasked with leading global development and humanitarian projects to improve lives, relieve poverty, promote democratic government, and encourage progress beyond aid. Republican Representatives Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Anna Paulina Luna have all joined Gaetz’s bill as co-sponsors. Gaetz went on to say, “The American people will not tolerate government-funded degeneracy at home, and we will certainly not accept its force-feeding abroad under Old Glory.”

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