Achen, not her real name, is a soft-spoken 26-year-old from northern Uganda. She never imagined she would run a business, let alone one that would allow her to earn enough to send her younger sister to school. For years, she moved from shelter to shelter, surviving day by day, evicted from rental rooms, beaten on the street, and regularly denied healthcare simply for being a transgender woman.

When Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2023, along with other trans persons, Achen’s fragile life collapsed further. Fear intensified, support systems buckled, and donor-funded safe spaces that once offered her hope shuttered under a wave of foreign aid suspensions. Her voice, already timid, nearly disappeared altogether.

Achen is one of transgender and gender diverse persons who have found a lifeline through the Trans Resilience and Economic Empowerment (TREE) a bold initiative by Tranz Network Uganda that has been running since 2020. Designed as an integrated support economic empowerment platform in the face of both institutional hostility and global donor shifts, TREE is one of the few initiatives/ strategies still standing amid Uganda’s increasingly restrictive environment. 

At a time when the LGBTQ+ movement in Uganda is grappling with an unprecedented dual crisis — legal persecution at home and donor withdrawal abroad — this initiative is a timely intervention to restore agency and dignity through livelihoods. Funded modestly through a patchwork of partner organizations, TREE delivers skills training, seed capital, mentorship with health services linkage/referral to trans and gender diverse people navigating the harsh realities of criminalization and economic exclusion.

Since it began, TREE has supported trans-led businesses across Uganda’s towns and cities, from Kampala to Mbarara, Lugazi to Mbale. Groups have been trained in financial literacy and record-keeping, received smartphones to enable digital transactions, and built networks of savings and credit through Village Savings and Loan Associations while creating a safe space and linkage to health services like HIV test and counseling and gender violence services. Trans-led businesses in piggery, tailoring, catering, vending, and crafts have emerged not just as sources of income but as community hubs. 

Some beneficiaries have gone on to earn certificates in accounting and financial management. Others have used their new income to rent safe housing, restart school, or reenter HIV treatment. Emergency assistance has been extended to community members facing eviction or violence, including access to medical care, relocation support, and GBV counseling. These interventions have created a ripple effect that is difficult to quantify but undeniable to those living it. One project beneficiary described TREE as “not just money, but a second chance.”

Economic marginalization has long been wielded as a weapon of control against transgender communities. Trans and gender diverse persons in Uganda are systematically excluded from the formal labor market due to discriminatory hiring practices, lack of legal recognition on IDs, and pervasive social stigma. Many are pushed into unstable, informal sectors like sex work, which not only expose them to health risks but also legal vulnerability under vague morality clauses in the law. 

In rural areas, where surveillance and stigma are even more pronounced, trans and gender diverse persons report being blacklisted from community savings groups, denied land access, and forcibly outed when seeking credit or medical attention. With nowhere else to turn, many live in cycles of poverty, dependent on shrinking NGO safety nets that were already under strain even before U.S. foreign aid cuts triggered widespread closures.

The 2025 executive order(s) issued by President Donald Trump, which halted 83 percent of USAID programs, acted like a wrecking ball through Uganda’s LGBTQ+ support ecosystem. Despite waivers allowing continued funding for basic HIV and tuberculosis treatment, the cuts included a freeze on programs that offered diversity and inclusion services. Shelters closed, staff were laid off, mental health services evaporated, and peer-led HIV prevention programs vanished. As access points to HIV testing and treatment diminished, stigma deepened. Several community members who previously accessed PrEP, lubricants, and condoms through drop-in centers began reporting new infections or treatment interruptions. In these conditions, economic resilience isn’t just about income — it’s about survival.

Williams Apako, executive director of Tranz Network Uganda, says the TREE initiative is about putting power back into the hands of trans people by recognizing that economic agency is foundational to every other form of empowerment, including health. 

“You can’t ask someone to adhere to HIV treatment or avoid risky behavior when they’re hungry, homeless, or too afraid to walk to a clinic,” he says. “This strategy is about reframing resilience not as endurance but as self-determination. Each cycle has adapted to what our communities are facing. When people lose shelter, we help them find footing again. When businesses collapse due to legal attacks, we help them pivot. The ability to make money on your own terms means you can walk away from violence, from unsafe sex, from dependence.”

Afiya, not her real name, is a 22-year-old trans woman in Lugazi. She turned to TREE after being kicked out by her family and missing her antiretroviral medication for weeks. 

“They helped me get back into care quietly,” she says. “But also, I now braid hair from home and have customers who love my work. I have my own money now. It’s not much, but it’s mine.”

TREE-supported organizations, whose names have been withheld to protect participants, have trained dozens of trans persons in tailoring, hairdressing, catering, piggery, and crafts. Others are piloting mobile vending and delivery services in areas where visibility is dangerous. The project does more than provide capital. It helps beneficiaries establish business registration, form cooperatives, and, where possible, partner with sympathetic local leaders to create safer work environments while still accessing critical reproductive health services. In one region, a local health center has agreed to integrate HIV services with the TREE enterprise hub, providing discreet access to ARVs and counseling without requiring individuals to self-identify as LGBTQ+.

Hakim, not his real name, shares his journey with honesty and strength.

“As if life wasn’t already challenging enough as a trans person, I was also broke. I wanted to do something that would help me earn a living without having to depend on anyone. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, but back then, I didn’t know where to begin. I took a leap of faith and got a loan from the SACCO (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization),, which I invested in a sisal sponge business. It took time, but it paid off. With my own hands, I’ve managed to repay the loan and sustain myself. That’s something I’m really proud of.” 

What makes the TREE project stand out is its decentralized design. Rather than imposing a single model, it tailors support to each organization’s strengths and the local risks they face. Some groups have chosen to stay low-profile, operating income-generating activities from private homes. Others have gone semi-public, advocating for inclusive budgeting from district councils. In either case, the project positions trans persons not as passive recipients of aid, but as innovators, workers, and citizens. Several beneficiaries reported, for the first time in their lives, being able to make a financial decision without external approval. One said simply, “I paid my rent without begging. That was new for me.”

Yet even as TREE offers a glimpse of hope, Apako is realistic about its scale and limits. 

“This is not a replacement for healthcare or human rights protections,” he says. “Economic empowerment can’t thrive in a vacuum. We need international solidarity, we need political pressure on the Ugandan government to respect human dignity, and we need donors, including private foundations, to rethink how they fund resilience in hostile contexts.” He notes that several TREE partners are already overwhelmed with requests for support that they cannot meet.

Uganda’s HIV strategy, guided by the Uganda AIDS Commission and supported in part by global actors like UNAIDS and the Global Fund, risks losing its effectiveness if it continues to marginalize or exclude key populations. The rollback of targeted, inclusive programs will not only lead to higher transmission rates but also undermine decades of progress in public health. TREE, though small and other supporting programming and strategies in solidarity with LGBTQI+ communities in Uganda, reminds us that solutions must center the people most affected. In a moment when rhetoric is high and funding is low, this project speaks the language of possibility.

For Achen and others, the transformation has been quiet but profound. She now runs a small catering stall with two other trans women. She no longer sleeps with one eye open, waiting for a landlord to bang on her door. When asked what she would tell other trans persons scared of being visible or starting over, she says, “Even in fear, we can plant something small. And from that, we live.”

Williams Apako is the executive officer of the Tranz Network Uganda and a board member of the Global Fund’s Uganda Country Coordinating Mechanism.

D.C. Council member Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5) announced that at his request, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith agreed to ask the U.S. Park Service to rescind its decision at her earlier request to close Dupont Circle Park this weekend for WorldPride events.

The Park Service announced in a statement Monday night, June 2, that it would close Dupont Circle Park from Thursday, June 5 to Monday, June 9, at the request of Chief Smith, to prevent “destructive and disorderly behavior” by WorldPride participants.

“I spoke to Chief Smith this morning and I’m glad to report that the decision to close Dupont Circle park is being rescinded,” Parker, the Council’s only openly gay member, said in a posting on X. “The Park is central to the LGBTQ community and neighbors will be happy to enjoy it this year for WorldPride,”  Parker stated in his X post.

But Parker spokesperson Melissa Littlepage told the Blade that while Parker believes the U.S. Park Service will agree to Smith’s request to rescind the closing of Dupont Circle Park, Parker did not contact the Park Service to confirm that. 

National Park Service spokesperson Mike Litterst, who released the statement on Monday announcing the closure of Dupont Circle Park for WorldPride weekend, didn’t immediately respond to a Washington Blade inquiry on Tuesday, June 3, asking for confirmation of whether the Park Service has agreed to Chief Smith’s request to rescind the park closure.

Ryan Bos, executive director of Capital Pride Alliance, the group that organizes D.C.’s annual Pride events and that is serving as lead organizer for this year’s WorldPride events, said no official WorldPride events were scheduled to take place at Dupont Circle Park this weekend.

Bos said he could not confirm whether individuals or groups not associated with Capital Pride Alliance planned to hold an event there this weekend.

The National Park Service statement on June 2 announcing plans to close Dupont Circle park this weekend made it clear that the action came at the request of D.C. police.

“At the request of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, with the concurrence of the United States Park Police, the National Park Service will temporarily close Dupont Circle park this weekend, beginning Thursday, June 5 to Monday, June 9, as a public safety measure and to protect park resources during WorldPride celebrations,” the statement says.

The statement adds, “This decision was based on a history and pattern of destructive and disorderly behavior from unpermitted activities happening in the park during past DC Pride weekends, including vandalism in 2023 that resulted in approximately $175,000 in damage to the historic Dupont Circle fountain.”

Bos said he was certain that any damage that occurred in the Dupont Circle Park was not caused by participants of Capital Pride events.

This story continues to unfold and will be updated when more information becomes available. 

Hosting its “50 Shades of Pride” anniversary, Baltimore Pride will have various events from June 9-15 to celebrate the LGBTQ community.  

Kicking off with an opening happy hour with good vibes, music, and signature drinks on June 9, community members can head to EMA’s Corner for a night of joy, community, and bold self-expression. 

According to Baltimore Pride’s website, attendees from 5-9 p.m. can show off their “unique shade of Pride” by dressing down or going full glam.  

Hosting another happy hour on June 11 from 5-9 p.m., the Manor in Mount Vernon allows attendees to “sip, socialize, and celebrate 50 years of Baltimore Pride in style.” Filled with Insta-worthy photo moments, signature cocktails, and feel-good Pride anthems played by a live DJ, this event will promote community, connection, and culture. 

Ditching the drinks for a flag in hand, Baltimore Pride is taking over Mount Vernon for a vibrant block-style celebration June 13 from 3-8 p.m. 

Mount Vernon Pride will be filled with live music, art installations and community vendors, food trucks and an outdoor bar, Pride merch, dance zones, and hangout lounges. The event is free and open to all ages, taking place on Park Avenue and Read Street. 

Giving you some time to enjoy Mount Vernon Pride, Baltimore Pride’s Twilight on the Terrace will take place from 7-11 p.m. on June 13, giving attendees “a night of dancing under the stars, fine food, open bar, and great music.”

The “original Dreamgirl herself,” and Tony award and Grammy-award winner Jennifer Holliday, will grace the stage at M&T Bank Exchange at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center with her “soul-stirring vocals and electrifying presence” for an unforgettable night.  

Attendees are able to mix and mingle over signature cocktails and gourmet bites before and after the show with community leaders, culture icons, and changemakers at the Gala Reception. 

Limited seating is available, and attendees are expected to “dress to impress.” 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Baltimore Pride will host its annual Pride parade on Charles Street and North Avenue on June 14 at 12 p.m. Floats, dancers, DJs, and marching bands will walk along that route that “winds through the heart of Baltimore.”  

Onlookers are able to cheer from the sidelines of the parade while drag queens and community organizations celebrate LGBTQ joy, history, and resistance. 

The event will also feature announcers and special guest appearances. 

Admission is free for all ages, and attendees are encouraged to bring flags, signs, and lots of energy. 

Shutting down Charles Street once again, Baltimore Pride is hosting its annual Block Party.

From 3 p.m. until sunset on June 14, headliner and rapper Lola Brooke will perform as attendees visit local vendors, food trucks, street eats, dance zones, and more. 

Giving community members a chance to interact with 10 local drag entertainers, Baltimore Pride is hosting its own Pride drag brunch at 1611 Guilford Ave. on June 15. Filled with “jaw-dropping performances” with brunch and drinks included with purchase, attendees can be prepared to “slay” their Sunday and honor the “many shades, styles, and stories” that make up the LGBTQ community.  

Doors open at noon with the show starting at 1:15 p.m. with a $20 admission fee.

Ending its week of celebration, Baltimore Pride is hosting Pride in the Park from 12-6 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. Community members are invited to celebrate “a day of love, laughter, and community in the heart of nature.”

Attendees will have lots to choose from for entertainment with live performances from special guests, like singer and songwriter Durand Bernarr and gospel singer Kelly Pride, community vendors, food trucks, and a family zone with arts, games, and activities. Pet-friendly with a variety of opportunities for photo ops and giveaways, this event is free with an RSVP and open to all to celebrate the LGBTQ community authentically and unapologetically.