I think what they are referring to is the way reactionaries in some countries (notably the right in Russia and China) consider queerness to be nearly a western invention and queer rights to be some nefarious plot by the west to weaken them. Therefore, one can hope (though it's unclear if this is what would happen) that the US waving fewer rainbow flags abroad would weaken the rhetorical basis for this myth and therefore make things easier for queer movements in Russia, China, etc.
There's actually a silver lining here. The less that LGBT rights are associated with the US and the collective West, the better.
Are LGBT rights better protected elsewhere?
Yes, they're enshrined in the Cuban constitution for example.
T rights are even protected from capitalism in Iran; free hormones and surgery. LGB and Ts who don't want surgery, not so much.
Greater protections for trans people and zero protection for gays is pretty common in West Asia.
Is it just me, or is this a really fucking weird way to refer to trans and queer people?
If it was coming from like JK rowling, yes, if it's coming from someone whose included in those groups or in pro-LGBT context, w/e.
I think what they are referring to is the way reactionaries in some countries (notably the right in Russia and China) consider queerness to be nearly a western invention and queer rights to be some nefarious plot by the west to weaken them. Therefore, one can hope (though it's unclear if this is what would happen) that the US waving fewer rainbow flags abroad would weaken the rhetorical basis for this myth and therefore make things easier for queer movements in Russia, China, etc.