World’s First Global LGBTQ+ Solidarity Declaration
- ReportOUT
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Launched in Newcastle-Gateshead, UK
The world’s first Global LGBTQ+ Solidarity Declaration has been signed in Newcastle-Gateshead, north east England.
The wording for the world’s first international LGBTQI+ solidarity declaration has been officially signed at the Safer To Be Me summit, which took place in Newcastle and Gateshead across the last week.
The official signing ceremony took place at The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle, attended by His Excellency Jeroen Cooreman, Belgian Ambassador to the UK, alongside Cllr Karen Kilgour (Leader of Newcastle City Council), Cllr Gary Haley (Deputy Leader of Gateshead Council), and invited guests.
"More than ever, we need to unite. In an era of a highly organised rollback of LGBTQI+ rights, it is time to stand together..." Drew Dalton CEO ReportOUT
The Newcastle-Gateshead Declaration was the centrepiece of this landmark event, delivered by LGBTQ+ charities ReportOUT, Pride Action North, and OUT North East. The summit welcomed over 600 delegates from 40 countries over the week, who came together to share strategies, build networks, and advance LGBTQI+ rights worldwide.
The Declaration was developed by the UK Alliance for Global Equality - a coalition of 14 leading UK civil society organisations - working in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. With input from activists, policymakers, grassroots organisers and civil society leaders, the Declaration marks a major milestone in the global movement for LGBTQI+ equality.
It reaffirms a universal commitment to freedom, dignity, and human rights for LGBTQI+ people, while rejecting all forms of persecution, discrimination, and criminalisation. Released after months of international consultation and collaboration, the Declaration stands as a powerful and unified response to the global rise in anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment and repression.
Drew Dalton, CEO of ReportOUT, said: "More than ever, we need to unite. In an era of a highly organised rollback of LGBTQI+ rights, it is time to stand together. The Declaration is the beginning of our fightback and a good news story in a time when it feels like there are not enough of them."
By signing the Declaration, organisations commit to defending LGBTQI+ people’s right to live free from violence and criminalisation, and to access healthcare without stigma or barriers. It condemns harmful laws and policies, reaffirms LGBTQI+ people’s entitlement to dignity, autonomy, and full equality under international law, and supports their inclusion in all aspects of public and private life—social, economic, cultural, and political.
It also calls for:
The protection of LGBTQI+ human rights defenders
The right to asylum for those fleeing persecution
The amplification of LGBTQI+ voices in policy and decision-making
This is a bold and united stance for global justice and equality.
The Declaration has also been supported by leading regional law firm Square One Law.
Gill Hunter, Managing Partner of Square One Law, said: “The North East has always been a region that stands up for fairness that fosters a strong sense of community and this Declaration continues that proud tradition. In times when inclusion is being challenged, it’s more important than ever that we join our voices and stand up for fairness, respect and equity.
" As a values driven firm our purpose goes beyond delivering an excellent service for our clients, it’s also about supporting the communities where we live and work. We have a culture of doing the right thing, to speak up when it matters and to use our platform to make a positive difference. We’re proud to support this initiative and to stand alongside others who share that commitment”.
The official signing ceremony took place at The Assembly Rooms in Newcastle, attended by His Excellency Jeroen Cooreman, Belgian Ambassador to the UK, alongside Cllr Karen Kilgour (Leader of Newcastle City Council), Cllr Gary Haley (Deputy Leader of Gateshead Council), and invited guests.
As well individuals, thousands of organisations - large and small - are expected to endorse the Declaration as a living, ongoing commitment to global LGBTQI+ solidarity.
Wording for the full declaration:
THE NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD DECLARATION
By signing this Declaration, we:
Reaffirm the universal truth that all people, including LGBTQI+ people, are born free and equal in dignity and rights, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
Unite in defence of the dignity, autonomy, and freedom of LGBTQI+ people, everywhere.
Affirm that LGBTQI+ people are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms, whether civil, political, economic, social, and cultural.
Support the right of LGBTQI+ people to live free from violence, persecution, and discrimination in all spheres of life, both public and private.
Assert that state sovereignty should never serve as a shield for oppression, and that international law compels all states, without exception, to uphold, respect, and fulfil the human rights of all, including LGBTQI+ people.
Condemn all laws, policies, and practices that criminalise or harm individuals on the basis of real, or perceived, LGBTQI+ status.
Resist all state and non-state actors who enable the persecution of LGBTQI+ people, though their use of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and symbolic violence.
Reject, unequivocally, all narratives that frame the lives of LGBTQI+ people as inferior, unnatural, or undeserving of equal rights and protection.
Recommit to the principles of providing safety, protection, and asylum to LGBTQI+ people fleeing persecution, as set out in the United Nations Refugee Convention (1951).
Affirm that LGBTQI+ people should receive the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and that they should have the ability to access HIV services without stigma, discrimination, or criminalisation. To remove legal, social and policy barriers that hinder the ability of LGBTQI+ people to achieve the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Call on states to address the precarious situation of LGBTQI+ Human Rights Defenders by implementing their own policies, or regional policies, for improving protection and security.
Amplify the voices of LGBTQI+ people by ensuring they are meaningfully included in discussions, debates, decisions, and policies, which affect their lives.
Build coalitions across movements and allies, recognising that the liberation of LGBTQI+ people is intertwined with other key intersectional factors.
Our commitment:
With compassion, courage, and humility, we commit ourselves to building a more just, inclusive, and equitable world, one in which LGBTQI+ people everywhere, are safe, visible, valued, and free.
This declaration is not only a statement of intent – it is a living commitment of courage, solidarity, and shared purpose, marking a turning point toward action and global unity.
