iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

New piece out today in Just Security where we argue that the expanded Global Gag Rules aren’t just bad for vulnerable pops like LGBTQI+ people, but also undermine US interests and national security overall.

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Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 17/07/2025

In the United States and beyond, democratic backsliding threatens to reverse recent gains in LGBTQ rights, writes @arimshaw.bsky.social‬. To protect marginalized groups, policymakers and activists must “build up institutional safeguards that can withstand this wave of illiberal pressure.”

foreignaffairs.com

The Global Threat to LGBTQ Rights

The fate of legal protections is tied to the fate of democracy.

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 28/06/2025

Orban banned it, so even more people turned out

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ODI Global @odi.global · 23/06/2025

The US pulling back from global leadership on LGBTQI+ rights is further emboldening autocrats to take "anti-LGBTQI+ measures without diplomatic consequence." @williamsinstitute.bsky.social's @arimshaw.bsky.social joined us to unpack how threats to LGBTQI rights mean threats to all our rights.

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Thanks to @chathamhouse.org for including my piece in this month's issue. I argue that anti-LGBTQ attacks are further evidence of democratic backsliding, and thus efforts to protect and promote LGBTQ rights must be part of frontline pro-democracy coalitions. www.chathamhouse.org/publications...

chathamhouse.org

Where LGBT rights are under fresh attack, so is democracy

From the US to Hungary, from Iraq to Ghana, new erosions of minority rights are a warning of democratic backsliding. To fight back this Pride month, new alliances must be formed, says Ari Shaw.

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Williams Institute @williamsinstitute.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Between 2012 and 2017, LGBTQ+ people from 84 countries filed 3,899 asylum claims in the U.S. "As the U.S. moves away from that sort of welcoming environment, queer refugees have fewer options in terms of where they can go to be safe." - @arimshaw.bsky.social

latimes.com

Transgender Americans weigh leaving U.S. over Trump's policies. Some already have

Transgender Americans are making plans to leave the U.S., saying they fear President Trump's policy directives targeting their healthcare, travel documents and ability to live as they wish. Some alrea...

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

In my latest for @theadvocatebr.bsky.social, I argue that, contrary to Trump admin policies, investment in LGBTQI+ people offers a cost-effective way to promote strong, prosperous democracies that enhance U.S. national security and advance our interests globally. www.advocate.com/voices/usaid...

advocate.com

Op-Ed: Why foreign assistance for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. national interests

The Trump administration's plan to cut U.S. foreign assistance programs is shortsighted and harmful.

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Trump’s executive order pausing foreign aid is already wreaking havoc, but especially so for vulnerable communities like LGBTQI+ people. My latest for @williamsinstitute.bsky.social here: williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications...

williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu

Impact of Executive Order Pausing U.S. Foreign Aid on LGBTQI+ People

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Melissa Murray @profmmurray.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Former Secretary of Transportation--who was not on The Real World or Road Rules--weighs in on the President's efforts to blame the fatal air traffic accident on DEI.

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Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

This will cause great devastation to many people around the world, and to U.S. interests. State Department memo: "For existing foreign assistance awards, contracting officers and grant officers shall immediately issue stop-work orders." via @alterigoe.bsky.social www.devex.com/news/exclusi...

devex.com

Exclusive: State Department issues stop-work order on US aid

The memo puts a pause on new foreign aid spending, as well as a stop-work order for existing grants and contracts.

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

This excellent oped by @jessewegman.bsky.social and @leedrutman.bsky.social makes the compelling case that proportional representation in Congress could ameliorate disfunction and dangerous polarization driven by winner-takes-all system and gerrymandering. Their fix: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

nytimes.com

Opinion | How to Fix America’s Two-Party Problem

Proportional representation could help restore American democracy.

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Casey Newton @caseynewton.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

NEW: The head of Facebook Messenger has a non-binary child and last week assured employees that Meta would work to preserve queer voices. Hours days later the company deleted its trans and non-binary pride themes in Messenger www.platformer.news/meta-trump-p...

Under the company’s new content policies, moderators were told to begin allowing dehumanizing speech such as "This whole nonbinary thing is made up. Those people don't exist, they're just in need of some therapy."

“I know these examples are difficult to read — they sure are for me,” wrote Crisan, who is also a sponsor of Meta’s LGBTQ employee resource group. “That said, it's important to separate what we believe is right from what can be said on our platforms. Honestly, as a parent of a non-binary kid, I want nothing more than for my child to be seen and accepted. But I recognize that shutting down all speech I might find hurtful can have the opposite effect. At best, the lack of dialog changes no hearts. At worst, it hardens them. I know we're all hurting from LGBTQ+ rights being politicized for so long, but I also know that our platforms have given all of us a voice and will continue to do so.”

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Lydia Polgreen @polgreen.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I am finding it quite unbearable to watch Sarah McBride bear the grotesque attack of her colleagues with so much grace. I know it is what we have been taught to expect of trailblazers, but I am increasingly struggling to accept this.

Tweet from the first openly transgender member of congress.

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Moving toward proportional representation in Congress would do so much to reduce polarization and actually enhance representation of diverse preferences in politics.

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Ari Shaw @arimshaw.bsky.social · 17/11/2024

ICYMI, @williamsinstitute.bsky.social held a terrific discussion on the impact of the election for #LGBTQ rights, featuring the always insightful @drandrewrflores.bsky.social You can watch the full conversation here: youtu.be/ALV2EZBuLzU

youtu.be

The 2024 Election: The Future of Democracy & LGBTQ Rights

YouTube video by The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law

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