Exit

About Us

About us

ILGA World – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – is a worldwide federation of more than 1,900 organisations from over 160 countries and territories campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights.

We want a world where the human rights of all are respected and where everyone can live in equality and freedom: a world where global justice and equity are assured and established regardless of people’s sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

Established in 1978, ILGA World has ECOSOC consultative status at the United Nations.

Our members are based in our six regions: Pan Africa ILGAILGA AsiaILGA-EuropeILGALAC (Latin America and the Caribbean), ILGA North America and ILGA Oceania.

Governed by an elected Board of 19 activists representing our global family, ILGA World is queer democracy in action!

What does ILGA World do?

ADVOCACY
We work to achieve and maintain recognition and protection of the human rights of people with diverse SOGIESC by the United Nations and other global institutions.

RESEARCH
Our experts collect reliable, evidence-based data on laws towards our communities, and produce guides that are crucial resources in the hands of human rights defenders, including the State-Sponsored Homophobia report and the Trans Legal Mapping Report.

TRAININGS AND CONVENINGS
We support LGBTI organisations around the world with capacity building trainings, and organise world and regional conferences to provide them with occasions to network and strategise.

COMMUNICATIONS
We raise awareness about LGBTI human rights issues through media, and work to support the visibility and contributions of people of diverse and marginalised SOGIESC.

Our work is guided by the rules set forth in our Constitution and Standing Orders. More information is available on our leaflet.

How it all began

August 1978. Coventry, United Kingdom.

Representatives of organisations from Australia, Britain, Denmark, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Scotland and the United States gathered together at a fringe meeting of the annual conference of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality: the (then named) IGA was born.

Many legal, political and social changes that have happened for rainbow communities in the past 40 years seemed unthinkable back then. We have been there ever since.

Read an extensive research on the history of ILGA World between 1978-2012
Learn more about ILGA World and the Ecosoc status controversy

ILGA World is built on the energy and passion of its global membership.

Passionate and restless activists – along with partners, allies and families – continue to have a profound impact on many LGBTI lives around the world.

You too can join the ILGA World family!

Any organisation interested in working for equal rights for LGBTI persons may apply to become a member of ILGA World.