At a time when many LGBTQ+ organizations are shrinking under political and financial pressure, Mpact Global is doing the opposite.
Marking its 20th anniversary, the international advocacy group is expanding its reach, launching new initiatives, and doubling down on its mission to protect queer health and human rights worldwide. For Executive Director Andrew Spieldenner, the moment feels less like a celebration and more like a call to action.
“Our community needs us now more than ever,” Spieldenner told Gayety. “When it comes to fundamental human rights, there is no scaling back.”
Two Decades of Impact and Counting
Founded in 2006 as The Global Forum on MSM & HIV, Mpact began as a coalition responding to the disproportionate impact of HIV on gay and bisexual men. Today, the organization operates in more than 60 countries, supporting grassroots leaders and shaping global health policy.
Looking back, Spieldenner points to both scale and intimacy as defining markers of the organization’s work.
“Over 20 years, we’ve invested over $20 million in LGBTQ organizations globally,” he said. “We’ve also cultivated communities of queer people living with HIV in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia — increasing visibility, connection, and empowerment.”
He highlighted the group’s role in global advocacy spaces, including the 2021 United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, where Mpact worked to ensure queer communities remained visible in funding and policy decisions.
At the same time, community-driven moments, like the Besotón Sidoso (HIV Kiss-In) — have remained central to its identity.
“It was a culmination of queer people living with HIV shamelessly and openly expressing their sexuality,” he said.
From Survival to Longevity But Stigma Remains
Spieldenner’s perspective is shaped by lived experience. Openly living with HIV for decades, he has seen the medical landscape shift dramatically.
“When I was first diagnosed, they told me I had five years to live — ten if I was lucky,” he said. “Now the message is that people can live a normal lifespan, as long as treatment is accessible.”
That progress, however, hasn’t erased stigma.
“HIV stigma still exists, even now,” he said. “As queer people living with HIV, we need community to thrive.”
He noted that while technology has made connection easier, physical spaces have declined. “I’ve been around when there was more investment in community centers and safe places than there is today.”
A Global Backlash, Felt Locally
Mpact’s anniversary arrives during a turbulent period for LGBTQ+ rights. Funding cuts and political hostility have reshaped the landscape of queer health work.
“The funding cuts have been severe and sudden,” Spieldenner said. “Everything we took for granted has shifted or been eliminated.”
He pointed to a broader cultural shift where even basic healthcare conversations have become politicized.
“We live in a time when saying ‘trans healthcare’ is considered a partisan statement,” he said. “There is not a rosy picture.”
The consequences are tangible. LGBTQ+ people may be pushed into healthcare systems that are not equipped to serve them, increasing the risk of discrimination.
“Our communities have to find new ways to organize and get support,” he added. “There will not be a return to ‘normal.’”
Why Visibility Still Matters
Despite changing conditions, Mpact continues to invest in bold, visibility-driven campaigns, including its “Right To” initiative and public demonstrations like the Kiss-In.
“The premise is quite simple,” Spieldenner explained. “Demonstrate the value and the power of the sexuality of queer people living with HIV.”
For some, that visibility carries global weight.
“One of my proudest moments was when a partner in Sub-Saharan Africa told me, ‘Be the gay that we can’t,’” he said. “It makes us proud that you represent us.”
Reaching Communities in New Ways
One of Mpact’s newer efforts involves partnering with adult content creators to promote sexual health, an approach that challenges traditional public health norms.
“Sex is one of the most common shared experiences in our queer community,” Spieldenner said. “Adult content creators have keen insight. They’re savvy and creative.”
By collaborating with creators, Mpact aims to reach audiences that conventional campaigns often miss.
“These projects allow us to advance their rights and increase health knowledge for everyone,” he said.
Building Power for the Next Decade
Looking ahead, Spieldenner sees a need for stronger regional and global coordination.
“We need to do some power building again,” he said. “Each region has distinct needs, and regional advocacy will shed light on them.”
With shifting priorities in countries like the United States, Mpact is also working directly with other governments to secure support.
“When the U.S. does not prioritize LGBTQ resources, we need to make sure other governments understand the critical role they can play,” he said.
A Fight That’s Far From Over
If there’s one takeaway Spieldenner hopes resonates, it’s urgency.
“Queer health and human rights are under attack globally,” he said. “We see clinics closing. We see conversion therapy still legal in many places.”
And yet, community persists.
“Being LGBTQ is still profoundly dangerous in many parts of the world,” he said. “But people still find ways to come together.”
For Mpact, the next chapter isn’t about reflection — it’s about momentum.
“As a community, we are all part of that larger movement,” Spieldenner said. “People must invest in the organizations that need support.”
Twenty years in, the mission hasn’t softened. If anything, it’s sharpened.
