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LGBTQ+ immigrant organization returns grant money to Boston after media firestorm, death threats

The Wu administration said that the organization's program was not in line with the intended use of the funds.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced grant funding intended to help immigrant communities in March 2026. Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe

By Ross Cristantiello

April 17, 2026 | 3:56 PM

4 minutes to read

The founder of an organization that supports LGBTQ+ immigrants was barraged by death threats this week following media reports about its plans for grant funding from the city of Boston. The city said that the organization’s program was not in line with the designated purpose of the funds. Now, the organization has announced that the funding will be returned.

Sal Khan is the founder of OUTnewcomers, which describes itself as a “community-led organization supporting LGBTQ+ migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in the Greater Boston Area.” Khan, an LGBTQ+ activist and former journalist who lives in Cambridge, came to the U.S. in 2019 as an asylum seeker. They faced persecution, death threats, and doxxing in their native Pakistan, Khan told Boston.com.

Upon their arrival in the Boston area, Khan said they found that it was not as welcoming as they would have hoped. Khan was struck by the isolation experienced by others like them and the lack of support networks for LGBTQ+ immigrants. To fill those gaps, they started OUTnewcomers in 2023.

Last month, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced a new round of grant funding meant to help immigrants. The funding, she said at the time, was a direct response to the ongoing attacks on immigrants from the Trump administration.

OUTnewcomers was awarded $7,500 through the city’s “Weaving Well-being” program, which officials said was meant to “support immigrant community-driven wellness and mental health.” OUTnewcomers had received some funding from the city before, and Khan said they were extremely grateful for the money. They also knew there was the possibility of backlash.

Khan intended to use the funding for a new initiative called “Project Belonging Matters.” It was described in a recent press release as an effort to “provide non-clinical wellness support to LGBTQ+ migrants in the City of Boston.” Khan’s initial idea was to create wellness-focused workshops for LGBTQ+ immigrants and other programming, but they also wanted a way to support individuals and businesses more directly.

Khan advertised the program on Instagram, which included an offer to “get $250-$500 for your well-being.” It said that “low-income, trans and isolated LGBTQ+ migrants in Boston” would be given priority and that funds received would have to be used in the city. Applicants were given the opportunity to request dollar amounts ranging from $50 to $500, with the latter reserved for “extreme cases for people suffering with documented medical conditions/disability,” according to a report from MassLive. The post has since been deleted.

On Wednesday, a website called Mass Daily News ran a story with the headline “Cash-strapped Boston partners with nonprofit to offer ‘LGBTQ+ migrants’ up to $500 for yoga, massages and hair salons — as hundreds of teachers face layoffs.” The story was quickly picked up by outlets like The New York Post and the Daily Mail, which framed it as being about Boston’s “woke” mayor delivering handouts to immigrants.

Khan heavily criticized these outlets, saying they made little or no effort to reach out before running their stories. Khan said that much of the program had been taken out of context and that the OUTnewcomers program was not meant to direct cash payments to individuals in any form. None of the funding was distributed, Khan said.

“It’s irresponsible, it’s inaccurate, it’s dangerous, and it’s so wrong. I’m not sure these people are even professionals,” Khan said of the media firestorm. “I’m just trying to save lives of people who are fleeing extreme violence, trauma, and isolation.”

As the story spread worldwide, racist and homophobic comments rolled in, alongside death threats and doxxing of Khan’s personal life. Many others have threatened Khan with deportation, saying that they would contact authorities in the Trump administration, Khan said. Khan is a legally-protected asylum seeker, they said.

Khan said they now fear acts of violence, as well as repercussions where they work.

“It’s extremely difficult for me to process all this,” they said. “I’m just scared of even leaving the house now.”

OUTnewcomers announced Thursday that Project Belonging Matters would be paused following the threats Khan received.

On Friday, Khan issued the following statement:

“Due to escalating and credible threats to my personal safety, as well as to the integrity of our organization’s work, we have made the difficult and deeply distressing decision to cease all programming funded by the City of Boston. In light of these circumstances, all funds received through this support will be returned in full. This decision has not been made lightly, but out of an urgent need to prioritize safety, accountability, and the well-being of those we serve,” they said.

The grant funding distributed to OUTnewcomers was allocated from the fiscal year 2026 budget. A city spokesperson responded Friday, confirming that the funds will be returned.

“No funds were distributed for this purpose. The organization is returning the funds to the City. The $7,500 grant was awarded to support mental health programs and services—using it for the voucher program being referenced was never allowed and is not happening,” the city spokesperson said in a statement.

Despite the return of the grant funding, Khan said they are determined to keep OUTnewcomers going, to help LGBTQ+ immigrants. The organization is still being supported by private donations, Khan said.

“This is something greater than myself. I’ve been advocating for people like me since I’ve been here so that people understand our humanity,” Khan said.

This episode reflects a global environment that is growing more hostile to LGBTQ+ people and immigrants, they said.

“You publicize things, the right-wing everywhere, they think the same,” Khan said. “They just hate us for existing, for whatever reason, I’m not sure.”