A group dedicated to helping “LGBTQ+ migrants” in Boston is flailing after conservative media drew attention to its program distributing “wellness” grants to migrants, which the group claimed was taxpayer funded.
After The Daily Signal reached out for comment, the group deleted its press release claiming to combat “disinformation,” and announced a pause in the program. The City of Boston, for its part, confirmed that it awarded a grant to the group, but explicitly stated that no taxpayer funds may be used for the program.
“OUTnewcomers, a grassroots LGBTQ+ migrant justice organization based in Greater Boston, announces the temporary pause of its wellness initiative, Project Belonging Matters,” the group posted in a press release after The Daily Signal reached out for comment Thursday.
OUTnewcomers claimed that the organization and its founder, Sal Khan, “received multiple death threats and threats of being reported to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the project’s public launch.”
The group does not suggest it checks documentation to ensure that migrants are legal when dispersing services.
The LGBTQ+ Migrants’ ‘Wellness’ Program
The organization launched the program on Tuesday with posts on Facebook and Instagram.
“Get $250-$500 for your well-being,” a poster states, advertising “Wellness Support for LGBTQ+ Migrants in Boston.”
The poster states four different potential uses for the funding: “Yoga & Meditation,” “Creative Healing,” “Peer Support,” and “Gym Memberships.” The poster says the program will give priority to “low-income, trans & isolated LGBTQ+ migrants in Boston,” with the proviso that “all funds must be used within the City of Boston.”
Combating ‘Disinformation’
After Mass Daily News and the Daily Mail reported on the program, OUTnewcomers published a press release countering what it called “disinformation” that “endangers LGBTQ+ migrants” in Boston.
The organization claimed the news outlets “did not follow ethical reporting standards,” but only suggested that the outlets wrongfully reported the $250-$500 payments.
“Our City of Boston-funded program is modest and need based,” the organization wrote. “It provides small vouchers of $50 or less to eligible LGBTQ+ migrants living in Boston to access limited wellness supports such as haircuts, acupuncture, or massage. The program is also intended to support local Boston businesses that welcome LGBTQ+ and migrant clients and workers.” (emphasis original)
The press release stated that the “hate-driven disinformation” “directly endangers” Khan and “puts vulnerable community members at greater risk.”
The Daily Signal reached out to the organization, seeking to clarify the size of the grants available and to verify whether the City of Boston funded them.
OUTnewcomers declined to comment to The Daily Signal and asked that The Daily Signal never contact the organization again.
Pausing the Program
After The Daily Signal reached out, OUTnewcomers removed the press release from its website and replaced it with the release announcing the pause.
“While we remain deeply committed to this work, the safety of our community must come first,” Khan, the organization’s founder, said in a statement on the pause. “We are taking this pause to assess risks and ensure that we can continue our mission in a way that protects those we serve.”
Boston’s Response
A spokesperson for the City of Boston confirmed that Beantown taxes had funded OUTnewcomers, but noted that none of the grant money may be allocated to the program in question.
“No funds have been distributed or directed for those purposes,” the spokesperson told The Daily Signal in a statement Thursday. “This organization received a $7,500 grant through a city program to support mental health services. Those funds were not designated for and may not be used for the voucher program referenced.”
The city’s budget for fiscal year 2026 allocated the funds, but the grant was cut from the fiscal year 2027 budget.
