Global Leaders Urged to Prioritize LGBTQ2S+ Rights Ahead of G7 Summit
Advocacy groups urge G7 leaders to prioritize LGBTQ+ rights during summit, marking a historic milestone for global inclusion.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada, pressure is mounting on world leaders to prioritize the advancement of LGBTQ2S+ rights. In the days leading up to the summit, advocacy organizations are urging the heads of state to make concrete commitments toward equality and protection for sexual and gender minorities.
Pride7, an independent group formed to drive policy recommendations related to LGBTQ+ issues within G7 member states, has been at the forefront of these calls to action. Last month, in partnership with Egale Canada and the Dignity Network Canada, Pride7 hosted a major summit in Ottawa. The gathering drew over 100 international LGBTQ+ leaders and advocates, who spent several days developing robust policy recommendations targeted at G7 officials.
During the event, participants emphasized the need for intersectional and inclusive strategies to tackle systemic barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. A statement from Pride7 highlighted the urgency: “G7 commitments to democracy, human rights, and sustainable development cannot be fulfilled without addressing the systemic barriers and violence faced by LGBTQIA+ communities.” The message was clear—protecting the dignity and rights of LGBTQIA+ people must be central to any forward-looking G7 policy.
The organization’s main set of proposals, detailed in the Pride7 2025 Communiqué, is built around core pillars such as defending democracy, reinforcing legal protections, and advancing human rights. Other key themes include promoting economic sustainability, driving humanitarian initiatives, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring gender justice and health equity for all.
“Even in the world’s most advanced economies, 2SLGBTQI rights are under threat,” warned Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada. Noting the current climate of rising hate, misinformation, and policy setbacks, Kennedy underscored the need for governments to protect recent gains. She urged leaders to listen to LGBTQIA+ voices, adopt the Pride7 Communiqué, and formally recognize Pride7 as an official engagement group within the G7 process.
Pride7 first emerged as an affinity group at the 2023 G7 Leaders’ Summit in Japan and has since campaigned vigorously to be acknowledged alongside other engagement groups, such as Women7, Civil7, and Youth7. “Recognizing Pride7 as an official engagement group is not symbolic — it is a necessary step toward ensuring that the perspectives, expertise, and lived realities of LGBTQIA+ people inform global decision-making at the highest level,” the group stated. Its inclusion would signal a major shift in how G7 nations consult civil society on pressing human rights issues.
This year’s summit also holds historic significance as it marks the fiftieth anniversary of the inaugural G7 meeting in France in 1975. The timing is particularly meaningful: June is recognized nationwide as Pride Month in Canada, amplifying the visibility and urgency of these calls for action.
As the summit approaches, Pride7 continues to gather endorsements for its 2025 communiqué, with plans to submit it directly to the Canadian host government and other G7 leaders. In a final statement, the group explained, “As we mark the 50th anniversary of the first G7 Summit, Pride7 reminds G7 leaders that millions of people around the world — in G7 countries and beyond — continue to face persecution for who they are.” Organizers hope this milestone moment will lead to substantive progress rather than symbolic gestures, setting a new benchmark for LGBTQIA+ inclusion at the highest levels of international policy-making.
