What is the trans opera that Useid financed in Colombia and that the White House qualifies as a ‘malgasto’? $ 47,000 were invested
Colombia was once again theme on Monday in Washington on behalf of the Fight that exists between the administration of Donald Trump and the International Development Agency (Usaid), In particular, regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In the afternoon, the White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavittmade a summary of some programs that finance the United States abroad through USAID and that already He called “deranged”, including a “transgender opera” which was promoted in the country.
“These are some of the deranged priorities in which this organization is spending silver. 1.5 million to promote the dei in Serbia, $ 70,000 for the production of a musical Dei in Ireland, $ 47,000 for a transgender opera in Colombia and $ 32,000 for a transgender comic strip in Peru. I don’t know you, but I don’t want my taxes to go to this because And I think the Americans either. That was what the president asked Elon Musk. That detects and eliminates this fraud of federal government spending, “Leavitt said.
However, curiously, The money for the financing of trans opera in Colombia does not seem to leave the USAID, but from the State Department and his bureau for the western hemisphere.
Trump 2024 National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Photo:AFP
The opera to which Trump’s government refers
According to this newspaper, Leavitt was referring to a camera opera of the American composer Laura Kaminsky entitled As One (as one) that premiered in Brooklyn in 2014.
The opera tells the story of Hannah, a transgender woman and her transition process. In 2021, the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra granted its opera creation scholarship, zarzuela and operetta to Kaminsky’s work for later staging.
Subsequently, that same year, the US Embassy in Bogotá rewarded the project that same year and awarded resources that served for its premiere in March of the year 2022 at the Free Theater.
One of the functions took place at the Chapinero headquarters of that theater, in Bogotá, on March 16, 2022. The soloists of said function were Juana Monsalve and Camilo Mendoza.
In fact, This opera has not only been presented in Colombia, but is one of the largest productions in North Americawith more than 50 presentations in different cities in the United States, as well as in dozens of countries in the rest of the world.
In the USAID records a item dedicated to the subject appears as part of the donation program (or GRANTS) Public diplomacy.
- 1.5 million dollars to promote dei initiatives in Serbia labor environments.
- $ 70,000 for the production of a musical with the theme of Ireland.
- $ 32,000 for a trans comic in Peru.
The foreign aid brakes promoted by the Trump administration
Institutional experts and actors warn that the closure or freezing of USAID funds would directly impact essential projects. Photo:Archive time
It should be remembered that the Trump administration, with the support of the businessman Elon Musk –Who heads the Government Efficiency Department (Doge) – has promoted measures that include a freezing of 90 days of almost all funds for the agency’s foreign aid programs, with exceptions for countries such as Israel and Egypt.
As a US taxpayer, I don’t want my dollars to go to this type of priorities
Karoline LeavittWhite House spokesman
The announcement has generated reactions found both in the United States and internationally.
While the White House authorities defend the measure as part of an effort to eradicate what they qualify as “fraud, waste and abuse “ In federal expenditure, various sectors and experts warn that cutting or restructuring USAID could have negative implications in humanitarian development and assistance programs in more than 100 countries.
The blow that the USAID closure would be for Colombia
The possible closure of USAID by the Donald Trump government would be a hard blow to Colombia, affecting key areas such as peace, security, humanitarian assistance, migration, environment and economic development and community.
Since 2000, the country has received more than 14,000 million dollars in cooperation, Divided into a “hard” component (fight against drug trafficking and terrorism) and a “soft” (humanitarian development and assistance), the latter being the most vulnerable, since it depends largely on USAID.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) would be directly affected with the decision. Photo:JAIVER NIETO ÁLVAREZ / THE TIME.
Institutional experts and actors warn that the closure or freezing of USAID funds would directly impact essential projects, such as those related to the implementation of the peace agreement, affecting entities such as the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), the unit for the victims and the National Land Agency (ANT).
President Gustavo Petro has announced provisional measures to alleviate the immediate effect on the JEPbut uncertainty persists.
In addition, this situation could trigger negative effects on social organizations, in the labor sector (due to the cancellation of financial contracts and commitments) and international cooperation, since other countries could withdraw their funds.
An impact on attention to migrants is also expected, since Migration Colombia warned about possible difficulties in the regularization of Venezuelans.
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