In a recent interview with Outright International’s Michael Heflin, the Global Grants Director, and Whitney Pfeifer, the Program Manager for the Global LGBTQI+ Inclusive Democracy and Empowerment (GLIDE) Initiative, discussed the purpose and impact of GLIDE within the larger context of the Global Equality Fund.
Here are some key insights from the conversation:
Increasing Access to Democratic Systems:
GLIDE aims to stimulate the participation and engagement of LGBTQI+ people and organizations in democratic spaces and processes.
Michael Heflin explains, “GLIDE seeks to bring LGBTQI+ individuals back to and elevate their leadership within the democracy space. The initiative recognizes the resource and capacity gaps faced by LGBTQI+ organizations and aims to counter anti-gender and anti-democratic forces that undermine inclusive democracy.
Empowering LGBTQI+ Individuals:
GLIDE’s support for LGBTQI+ individuals is two-fold. Firstly, it aims to rebuild trust in democratic processes by empowering and elevating LGBTQI+ leadership within the democratic space.
Whitney Pfeifer notes, “GLIDE seeks to provide practical tools and examples of ways LGBTQI+ individuals can utilize democratic …