The devastating social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have led national governments and aid sector organisations to place social protection mechanisms front and centre in their responses. While some of these government and aid sector programs have sought to reach the greatest number of people as quickly as possible, there is also a strong narrative of ensuring that COVID-19 social protection programs reach marginalised groups whose needs are greatest. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) commissioned Edge Effect to explore whether social protection and cash based assistance programs – especially COVID-19 programs – have addressed the needs of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, (SOGIESC, aka LGBTQ+ people). The title of the report, a quote from an interview with a donor organisation representative, captures the essence of the findings: “We don’t do a lot for them specifically …”