The International Republican Institute (IRI), a U.S.-funded organization affiliated with the Republican Party, used taxpayer money to sponsor transgender dance performances and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) advocacy in Bangladesh, according to documents obtained by The Grayzone.
The IRI, which focuses on promoting democracy abroad, conducted what it called the largest survey of LGBTQ people in Bangladesh and provided grants for various cultural initiatives, including three transgender dance performances, rap songs, films, and art projects. Between 2019 and 2020, 24% of the 1,868 Bangladeshis who participated in IRI programs were transgender, despite the community making up a small fraction of the country’s population.
The documents suggest the IRI saw LGBTQ individuals as potential agents of political change. The organization’s PAIRS (Promoting Accountability, Inclusivity, and Resiliency Support) program trained activists and engaged officials to advocate for policy reforms. U.S. diplomats, including then-Ambassador Earl Miller, attended several IRI-sponsored events.
Despite the Republican Party’s opposition to transgender policies domestically, prominent figures linked to the IRI include Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Tom Cotton, and Sen. Mitt Romney. The funding mechanisms for such programs remain in place, even as the Trump administration has frozen certain foreign aid expenditures.
The IRI is funded through the NED (National Endowment for Democracy), which has historically supported regime change efforts worldwide. Critics argue that such initiatives serve broader geopolitical strategies rather than genuine support for marginalized communities.