Lesotho LGBTQ Group Refutes Allegations of US Grant Funding
The People’s Matrix in Lesotho denied receiving $8 million in US funding for LGBTQ rights, contradicting President Trump’s claim. The group expressed confusion over the alleged funds, stating no knowledge or contracts existed. Lesotho focuses on health funding, especially for HIV/AIDS, posing risks amid recent aid cuts.
On Wednesday, the People’s Matrix, Lesotho’s primary LGBTQ rights organization, firmly stated they had not received the $8 million in US funding mentioned by President Donald Trump. In his speech to Congress, Trump claimed that the US promoted LGBTQI+ rights in Lesotho, which he described as an unknown nation.
Tampose Mothopeng, a spokesperson for People’s Matrix, expressed confusion regarding the alleged funds, stating, “We are not receiving grants from the US.” He emphasized there was no knowledge of the $8 million allocation or who might receive it, asserting, “We do not have such money or a contract that would even reach a quarter of half of that money.”
Financial support for LGBTQ rights is absent from the US government’s foreign assistance records for Lesotho. Instead, the projections for 2024 reveal approximately $120 million dedicated to “health and population” programs, including $43.5 million targeting HIV/AIDS.
Lesotho, with a population of 2.3 million, suffers from one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates, affecting nearly one in four individuals. The US embassy indicated that since 2006, over $630 million has been invested in mitigating HIV/AIDS in Lesotho. In mid-February, over 30 NGOs warned that the nation’s HIV programs might collapse due to cuts in US foreign aid.
The public’s reaction to Trump’s comments was one of bewilderment. Journalist and activist Kananelo Boloetse addressed this on social media, questioning Trump’s knowledge of Lesotho and highlighting its unique geographical status: “Lesotho’s the only country in the world entirely above 1,000 metres elevation, higher than your approval ratings ever got. We’re here, we’re proud, and we’re not your punchline.”
The People’s Matrix in Lesotho has officially denied receiving the $8 million grant mentioned by President Trump, emphasizing a lack of knowledge regarding the allocation of such funds. Financial assistance for LGBTQ initiatives appears unverified in US records. With significant health challenges, particularly in HIV/AIDS, the local NGO community warns of potential failures in health programs amidst cuts to foreign aid.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
