ViiV Healthcare deepens its commitment to under-served LGBTI communities, pledging $7.8million in new funding

• Funding will help organisations amplify the voices of LGBTI communities worldwide in counteracting anti-rights activities, addressing HIV stigma and advancing HIV services and advocacy
• Commitment forms part of the Global Philanthropy Project’s ‘Fund Our Futures’ campaign to support LGBTI communities across the globe, including advancing HIV services, amid funding threats

London, 11 November 2024 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, today announced it is pledging $7.8million to the ‘Fund our Futures’ campaign led by the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), which is focused on reigniting efforts to promote the rights of the LGBTI community. The funding, which is a new commitment, will be provided directly to organisations working to counteract anti-rights activities, address HIV and LGBTI stigma and discrimination and advance HIV healthcare services, access and advocacy across regional and global platforms.

Deborah Waterhouse, CEO, ViiV Healthcare and President, Global Health, GSK, said: “At ViiV Healthcare we believe that everyone, no matter where they live, should have the freedom to be their authentic selves. We know that the LGBTI community is disproportionately impacted by HIV and the rise of anti-LGBTI and gender policies and legislation threaten to undermine the tremendous progress we have made in the fight to end the HIV epidemic. We are committed to supporting communities impacted by HIV and our funding will equip our partners to not only continue their efforts but scale them up to have an even greater impact.”

The ’Fund Our Futures’ campaign launched today at the first-ever Global LGBTI Funding Summit in Cape Town, South Africa. With $100 million pledged by 28 grant-making institutions, the campaign aims to raise $150 million for global LGBTI movements to address an emerging funding crisis. Despite the global movement for LGBTI equality making once-unimaginable progress, recent backlash, anti-gender and anti-rights movements and shifting geopolitical landscapes means funding streams are now under threat.

A recent Global Resources Report published by GPP identified that global LGBTI funding in 2021-2022 accounted for less than 39 cents of every $100 in foundation funding and only 4 cents of every $100 in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).¹ Furthermore, recent movement research has documented that about one-third of trans, intersex and LBQ organisations had no external (foundation or government) funding.² LGBTI rights are integral to fostering equitable, stable, and resilient societies, with the global LGBTI movement playing a crucial role in defending access to healthcare, breaking down HIV stigma and helping to achieve global HIV targets.

Matthew Hart, Executive Director of the Global Philanthropy Project said: "We are thrilled that ViiV Healthcare has joined the Fund Our Futures campaign to support work to end HIV and advance LGBTI rights. At this pivotal moment, amid many shifts and risks in the funding landscape, we need all types of funders, including corporate funders like ViiV, to support global LGBTI movements."

Masen Davis, Executive Director of Funders Concerned About AIDS said: “Our identities are intersectional and our funding strategies need to reflect that reality. We thank ViiV Healthcare for their bold commitment and recognition that we will not end the HIV epidemic without advancing the health and human rights of LGBTI communities worldwide.”

About Global Philanthropy Project

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Global South and East. Established in 2009, GPP’s 23 member organisations include many of the leading global funders and philanthropic advisors for LGBTI rights. As the first international cohort of LGBTI funders, GPP is internationally recognised as the primary thought leader and go-to partner for donor coordination around global LGBTI work.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GSK (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who could benefit from HIV prevention. Shionogi became a ViiV shareholder in October 2012. The company’s aims are to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV and AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline, and commitment, please visit viivhealthcare.com. 

About GSK   
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at gsk.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D “Risk factors” in GSK’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2023, and GSK’s Q3 Results for 2024. 

Registered in England & Wales:
GSK plc                                    ViiV Healthcare Limited
No. 3888792                             No. 06876960  

Registered Office:
79 New Oxford Street    ViiV Healthcare Limited
London                        GSK Medicines Research Centre
WC1A 1DG                               Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage

                                                United Kingdom SG1 2NY

References

1. Global Resources Report 2021/2022. Global Philanthropic Project. https://lgbtifundingsummit.org/. Last accessed 07/11/24
2. The State of Trans and Intersex Organizing Reports 3^rd Edition. Global Philanthropic Project. https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/2024/10/28/stateoforganizing/. Last accessed 07/11/24