As Barack Obama calls for men to have gay and nonbinary friends, Haitians reflect on their own values and where the nation stands in a rapidly changing world.
Culture & Society | The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | July 21 2025
Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent statement urging men to build friendships with gay and nonbinary individuals sparked a global wave of reactions. While many praised his message of empathy and inclusion, in Haiti, the comments ignited a very different conversation—one that reflects the island’s deeply rooted cultural and moral stance.
“You need that person in your friend group so that if you then have a boy who is gay or nonbinary… they have somebody that they can go, ‘Okay, I’m not alone in this.’ That, I think, is creating community,” Obama said on a July 16 podcast.
His remarks set off a firestorm online, particularly in Haitian spaces where traditional values and religious convictions remain strong.
Haiti’s Cultural Values and Obama’s Words
For Haitians, homosexuality is not viewed as a natural or acceptable way of life. The majority of the population—shaped by generations of religious teachings and cultural traditions—see it as a deviation from the norms that have held families and communities together.
While Western countries have increasingly embraced LGBTQ+ rights, Haiti has largely resisted this shift. Among many Haitians, there is a belief that these new cultural movements threaten the moral fabric of the nation.
“Haiti is a land of faith and values,” said a pastor in Port-au-Prince. “We respect all people as God’s creations, but we cannot normalize lifestyles that contradict our beliefs.”
The Role of NGOs in Changing Haiti’s Cultural Landscape
Haiti, for centuries, was a country where homosexuality was not only taboo but almost unthinkable as an openly expressed lifestyle. The nation’s moral and spiritual foundations, shaped largely by Catholicism, Protestant Christianity, and traditional Vodou ethics, held steadfast against practices seen as incompatible with Haitian culture. For decades, it was rare—if not impossible—to find individuals publicly identifying as gay, lesbian, or nonbinary.
But in the wake of political instability, natural disasters, and widespread poverty, a wave of international NGOs (non-governmental organizations) began flooding into Haiti—particularly after the devastating 2010 earthquake. While many of these organizations provided critical relief and assistance, they also carried with them the cultural values and social agendas of their host countries. Among those agendas was a push for LGBTQ+ inclusion and rights.
“This was the moment the door opened,” says Haitian sociologist Marie-Rose Cangé. “Alongside food and aid came workshops, programs, and advocacy campaigns that sought to normalize practices which had never been part of Haitian society.”
In communities ravaged by hunger and desperation, NGOs wielded enormous power. Their financial resources and influence meant they could condition aid on the acceptance—or at least tolerance—of foreign values. Schools, health clinics, and even churches partnered with these organizations began incorporating language around gender fluidity and alternative lifestyles.
A Cultural Shift Fueled by External Forces
For many Haitians, this shift was not organic. It was not born of grassroots Haitian movements or a change in national consciousness. Rather, it was perceived as an import—an ideology brought from abroad and grafted onto a society with no historical or cultural basis for it.
“Our young people were exposed to these ideas for the first time through NGO programs,” explains a Haitian historian. “They were taught to see it as progressive, as the future, even if it clashed with everything their parents and grandparents believed.”
As a result, behaviors that once would have been unimaginable began appearing more visibly in Haiti. Social media gave LGBTQ+ Haitians a platform to express themselves and connect with allies, often in defiance of widespread cultural rejection.
But even as some embraced these changes, the majority of Haitians resisted. To them, this was not simply about personal choice—it was about the erosion of Haitian values under the weight of foreign influence.
The Tension Between Respect and Rejection
Today, Haiti is at a cultural crossroads. On one side are Western-backed NGOs and activists pushing for LGBTQ+ rights as part of a broader human rights agenda. On the other are millions of Haitians holding fast to their belief that such lifestyles are unnatural and incompatible with Haitian society.
This doesn’t mean Haitians lack compassion. The nation has long been known for its hospitality and resilience, even amid hardship. But there is a clear line between respecting individuals and endorsing lifestyles that many Haitians see as contrary to their spiritual and cultural identity.
“We can treat people with dignity without adopting their ways,” says Pastor Wilner Jean. “Haiti’s moral compass cannot be dictated by organizations that only arrived yesterday.”
A Fight for Haiti’s Soul
The rise of LGBTQ+ visibility in Haiti is, to many, a symptom of larger cultural colonization. The fear is that as NGOs continue to embed themselves in Haitian society, the nation’s traditions, values, and even sovereignty will be compromised.
“This isn’t about hate,” says cultural critic Nadège Fleurant. “It’s about defending the essence of who we are as a people.”
Obama’s comments may resonate in parts of the world, but for many Haitians, they highlight the growing cultural divide between Haiti and the West. As LGBTQ+ advocacy becomes more visible globally, Haitians are left grappling with how to engage respectfully without compromising their convictions. The answer, many say, is simple: Haitians will continue to uphold their values, even as they live in a world that increasingly challenges them.
At The Haitian Pulse, we remain committed to honest and fearless reporting that reflects the heartbeat of our people. Haiti’s culture is rooted in faith, family, and tradition, and while we respect individual freedom, we stand with the majority who believe these values must never be compromised. Share your thoughts below—your voice matters in shaping Haiti’s future.
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