Boston Mayor’s Office Denies Funding for LGBTQ Migrant Wellness Program Amid Controversy

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration has firmly denied reports that city funds were allocated to support a program offering LGBTQ migrants wellness benefits worth up to $500, following public backlash over the initiative.

The controversy centers around a program called “Belonging Matters,” run by local advocacy organization OUTnewcomers, which had advertised wellness services including yoga, meditation, gym memberships, creative arts, and hair styling for LGBTQ migrants and refugees.

“No funds have been distributed or directed for these purposes,” a spokesperson for the mayor’s office told Fox News Digital. “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 dispute highlights conflicting information about what the “Belonging Matters” program actually offered. While the initial registration form promised applicants between $250 and $500 in “wellness allowances” evaluated case-by-case, OUTnewcomers later characterized the initiative as providing “small vouchers of $50 or less” for services such as haircuts, acupuncture, or massage therapy.

OUTnewcomers is one of 45 organizations that received funding as part of a larger $200,000 initiative approved by Wu last year through the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement (MOLA). According to city officials, the $7,500 mini-grant to OUTnewcomers came from the 2026 budget, but the city has not approved any direct cash assistance or voucher funding.

“These investments represent our continued dedication to uplifting LGBTQ+ Bostonians by putting resources directly into the hands of trusted community organizations,” Wu said when announcing the broader funding initiative last year.

The program drew significant criticism online, with opponents questioning the use of taxpayer dollars for such services, particularly as Boston residents faced property tax increases approved by the City Council in 2025. One social media commenter wrote: “Handing out perks & benefits like this all the while telling the tax payers of Boston you need to pay more because we have a huge shortfall in our budget.”

In response to the controversy, OUTnewcomers announced Thursday that it had temporarily suspended the program due to “security threats.” The organization did not respond to media requests for comment on enrollment numbers or program specifics.

Founded by Sal Khan, a queer journalist originally from Pakistan, OUTnewcomers describes itself as a “grassroots and volunteer-run organization based in the Greater Boston Area” focused on “community-led advocacy, resource navigation and collective care.” The group only launched its website in April, according to its social media accounts, and does not appear to have published a Form 990, the tax document required of nonprofits that discloses organizational structure, leadership, and financial information.

The controversy comes at a sensitive time for Boston’s leadership on immigration issues. The city operates under sanctuary laws that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Last year, according to reports, Boston police declined all Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests, citing these local sanctuary protections.

The dispute over the “Belonging Matters” program raises broader questions about municipal oversight of grant funding and how city resources are allocated to community organizations, particularly those serving vulnerable populations. While the mayor’s office has clarified that no city funds were designated for wellness vouchers, the confusion around the program’s advertising and actual offerings has fueled public debate about Boston’s spending priorities.

As of now, the program remains suspended, with no clear timeline for if or when services might resume.