LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
HRC awards grants to 25 LGBTQ+ rights groups around the world
Organizations to receive up to $5,000 through Global Small Grants program
WASHINGTON โ The Human Rights Campaign on Wednesday announced it has awarded grants to 25 LGBTQ+ rights organizations around the world.
An HRC press release notes the organizations in 24 countries will receive Global Innovation Small Grants of up to $5,000 through the Human Rights Campaign Foundationโs Global Partnerships Program. Queer Youth Uganda, Icebreakers Uganda, Transgender Equality Hong Kong, Equal Namibia, PFLAG Panama, CamASEAN Youthโs Future in Cambodia, the Estonian Trans Alliance, Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO in Armenia and the Mediators Foundation in Ghana are among this yearโs grant recipients.
โThis is what community solidarity looks like,โ said Queer Youth Uganda Chief Legal Strategist Quin Mbabazi in the HRC press release. โIt enables us to continue breaking barriers during such harsh and challenging moments in the Ugandan movement.โ
HRC Global Partnerships Director Jean Freedberg noted the Global Small Grants program โis an opportunity for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to partner with LGBTQ+ advocates around the world to advance our common goal of equality for all.โ
โBy combining our knowledge, resources, and passion, we are so much stronger together,โ said Freedberg. โThese amazing advocates and organizations are making a difference and saving lives in each of their countries, and we are honored to be able to support their work.โ
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Quinceaรฑera fashion show raises record-breaking funds
The Trans Latin@ Coalition raised approximately $300,000 to continue funding vital programs
The Trans Latin@ Coalition raised a record-breaking amount of money at their quinceaรฑera, celebrating fifteen years of helping the Trans, Latin American communities of West Hollywood and Los Angeles. The event took place at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, starting with a VIP reception and red carpet, followed by a fashion show featuring 14 designers. The 15th anniversary successfully highlighted the intersection of cultura, fashion and activism with a mariachi and fashion lines full of vibrant Latin American colors, patterns and embroidery.
The quinceaneraโs fashion show is called GARRAS, which stands for Groundbreaking Activism Redirecting and Reforming All Systems. GARRAS is more than just a fashion show, it is also a movement to transform the Trans, Gender nonconforming and Intersex communityโas well as their alliesโinto high-fashion icons.
GARRAS raises funds for the Trans Latin@ Coalition and uses these events to give TGI people a platform to showcase their talents, leadership and activism. The quinceaรฑera-themed fashion show
Bamby Salcedo, CEO of Trans Latin@ Coalition spoke during the event to address not only the need for continued funding, but also to point out how much more unity the TGI and Latin American communities must demonstrate in light of the incoming Trump administration.
โI want to thank each and every one of you for supporting our work, for believing in our work and for participating in the change we are all working to create,โ said Salcedo to the audience. โWeโre here to raise funds to continue to do the work that needs to happen, especially because of what just happened [with the election]. And you know what? [The government] is trying to scare us and diminish who we are, and I say to all those mother f*ckers โF*ck you!โ
The fashion show and reception brought in celebrity guests, models, influencers and many other queer Los Angeles socialites. Zaya Wade, Gia Gunn from Ru Paulโs Drag Race: Season 6, Mayhem Miller from Ru Paulโs Drag Race: Season 10, Heidi N Closet from Ru Paulโs Drag Race: Season 12 and many influencers and personalities.
The TGI designers who showcased their latest creations were: Leandrag, Enrique Montes, Semi Creations, Natalia Acosta, Royal Rubbish, ArmaniDae, Nuwa1997, Bad Burro, Life on Mars, HIM NYC, 10 eleven, Rag to Fab, Christiana Gallardo and Jesse Alvarado.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Tim Walz to headline HRC National Dinner
Tickets are still available for the event on Saturday
Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will be the keynote speaker at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner on Saturday, the organization announced on X.
BIG NEWS: We are thrilled to have Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Tim Walz join us at our National Dinner! He has been a steadfast champion for the LGBTQ+ community and will continue fighting for our rights once he is elected to the White House. pic.twitter.com/nRsZfzuMYg
โ HRC (@HRC) September 4, 2024
Tickets are still available for the event. HRC is also hosting an Equality Convention this week, โa destination for trailblazers in politics, culture, and business who are igniting change and driving LGBTQ+ equality forward.โ
When Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic 2024 presidential nominee, announced Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6, HRC President Kelley Robinson said her pick โsends a message that a Harris-Walz Administration will be committed to advancing equality and justice for all.โ
The group wrote in a press release: โGovernor Walz is a career-long champion for LGBTQ+ people. In 1999, as a history teacher and football coach, Walz sponsored the schoolโs first gay straight alliance student group.
โHe opposed efforts to ban same-sex marriage in the Minnesota Constitution. While serving in Congress, he co-sponsored legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), voted to repeal the discriminatory โDonโt Ask, Donโt Tellโ law, voted for the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and introduced legislation to protect LGBTQ+ service members from discrimination in benefits.
โAs governor, Tim Walz signed an executive order banning the dangerous practice of โconversion therapyโ in Minnesota.โ
HRC in May pledged $15 million to organize in key battleground states for the Democratic ticket. Just days after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race and backed Harris as the presumptive nominee, the group raised more than $300,000 for her campaign in a virtual fundraiser.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
GLAADโs 2024 Accelerating Acceptance study documents disinformationโs impact
Group will review findings at the DNC
GLAAD released the 2024 Accelerating Acceptance study on Thursday, which found that acceptance for LGBTQ people remains at supermajority levels, but overall support for the community has dropped slightly as reports of discrimination have risen.
At a glance, the organizationโs top-line findings reveal that:
- 95 percent of non-LGBTQ Americans believe schools should be safe and accepting for all youth,
- 93 percent say children should be taught to appreciate and accept people as they are,
- 80 percent support LGBTQ equal rights, down from a record high of 84 percent one year ago, and
- 70 percent of GenZ LGBTQ adults report discrimination based on their sexual orientation.
The 16-page report is available here. GLAADโs Media Institute has published Accelerating Acceptance studies each year since 2015. The organization will hold a briefing at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 20 to review this yearโs findings.
As the data shows, โmore non-LGBTQ people have been inspired to speak up for LGBTQ equality as a result of accurate news coverage,โ GLAAD wrote in a press release, โand voters have shown up in election after election to reject extremist candidates and their anti-trans campaigns.โ
However, along with the findings about discrimination โ particularly among Gen Z adults, the largest population of out Americans in history โ respondents also report โnegative mental health impact, fear for their safety, and online and real world harassment as a result of the political discourse in the country.โ
โGLAADโs 2024 Accelerating Acceptance Study arrives at a monumental inflection point for the LGBTQ community and for our entire country,โ GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis said. โWhile acceptance for LGBTQ people remains at supermajority levels, the data this year also sounds substantial alarms about threats to this progress and to freedoms valued by every American.โ
โThe same extremist lawmakers, judges and media sources targeting abortion access, contraception, free and fair elections, and free speech, are using the same strategies of fear and disinformation to undermine LGBTQ people and our equality,โ Ellis said.
She added, โFortunately, the data also points to proven ways to keep expanding and accelerating acceptance.โ
The online study was conducted in January 2024 with a nationwide sample of 2,511 U.S. adults.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
GLAAD president under fire for excessive spending
Spokesperson called New York Times report โgrossly misleadingโ
GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis is under fire for excessive spending following a report in the New York Times on Thursday, which suggested the first class airfare, hotel accommodations, and car services booked by the organizationโs chief executive for business travel far outpace the expenses of leaders of similarly sized nonprofits.
Quoting legal, nonprofit, and ethics experts, the article suggests Ellis and GLAADโs actions may also have violated IRS rules, including their decision to not declare spending on Ellisโs home office renovation as income on her personal tax forms.
When Ellis joined in 2014, the article notes, GLAAD was in dire financial straits. Elevating the groupโs public profile and expanding its purview, Ellis had quintupled its revenue to $19 million by 2022.
โMajor donors have included media and tech companies such as Netflix, Google, and the Walt Disney Company; philanthropists like Ariadne Getty; and the New York City Council,โ the Times wrote. โIn 2022, the billionaire MacKenzie Scott donated $10 million.โ
GLAADโs chief communications officer, Rich Ferraro, said the board took Ellisโs performance into consideration when deciding her compensation, as under her leadership the advocacy group had started punching above its weight.
In a statement to the Advocate, Ferraro called the article โdeeply misleading,โ specifically disputing claims about Ellisโs annual compensation and denying that she ever took home โanything nearโ $1 million per year.
The organization has tussled with the Times in the past over the paperโs coverage of transgender issues. The Times, meanwhile, told the Advocate the paper stands by its reporting and noted GLAAD did not challenge any facts in the story.
Andy Lane, who has held senior roles in LGBTQ philanthropy, wrote on Facebook โGLAAD is a fraud, and has been as long as Iโve been in the business. For shame: And โฆ girl, bye. Long overdue.โ
History
LGBTQ+ History Archive Gains Momentum: Personal Stories Project Partners with George Takei
Increased Awareness Through Social Media Reach
The LGBTQ+ History Archive Personal Stories Project is experiencing a surge in submissions. This decade-long effort documents LGBTQ+ history through personal narratives. Its success stems from a new partnership with actor George Takei and the .gay domain provider.
Charles Chan Massey co-founded and directs the Personal Stories Project. He credits the partnershipโs success to Takeiโs vast social media following. Takei, a vocal LGBTQ+ rights advocate, encouraged his 3.3 million X followers to share their stories.
Takei posted: โEach of us in the LGBTQIA+ community has a powerful coming-out story to tell. I want to hear yours. Head over to personalstories.gay today. Fill out the form to be featured on the Personal Stories website. Iโll be sharing some throughout the month to inspire others.โ
Amplifying Community Voices
Logan Lynn is the creative director of .gay Domains. He emphasizes the partnershipโs role in amplifying vital LGBTQ+ voices.
โPride is about honoring and celebrating the depth of our communities,โ Lynn said. โWhat better way to showcase this than through stories from people living LGBTQIA+ lives?โ
Preserving Everyday Stories for Future Generations
Massey founded the LGBTQ+ archive project in 2012. His mission: preserve narratives of ordinary LGBTQ+ individuals, not just prominent figures.
โI wanted to archive our communityโs history,โ Massey explained. โNot just prominent members, but regular people who needed a platform. Regular people can identify with regular people. Itโs important to see someone just like you.โ
Massey maintains an online archive. This ensures accessibility of these oral histories for the LGBTQ+ community.
โAs long as the internet exists, it can archive our stories,โ Massey said. โWeโre preserving stories for future generations. Weโre also helping people find others with similar journeys.โ
From Facebook Page to Registered Charity
The LGBTQ+ History Archive Personal Stories Project started as a simple Facebook page. It has evolved into a dedicated website and registered charity. It now supports LGBTQ+ organizations across the US and Canada.
Many participants share how LGBTQ+ organizations helped them. The Personal Stories Project encourages donations to these charities. Massey reports raising $15,000 to $25,000 annually for over 20 non-profits.
โ95% of our budget goes to other 501(c)(3) organizations,โ Massey said. โWe support large and small community-based groups. A $200 donation can make a significant difference.โ
A Diverse Collection of Experiences
The Personal Stories Project has a vast collection of LGBTQ+ stories. Massey is often struck by the depth of experiences shared.
โI met Peter, who was 85 at the time,โ Massey shared. โHe served in the Air Force, modeled in the 1940s, started an ad agency, and lived through the AIDS crisis. His story shows the power of these narratives.โ
The project seeks submissions from all parts of the LGBTQ+ community. This includes people of various ethnicities and generations.
โPeople often think their story isnโt interesting,โ Massey said. โBut when they share, itโs captivating! Someone will identify with your story. Sharing is a powerful gift and a responsibility.โ
Share Your Story
Do you have an LGBTQ+ story to share? Visit personalstories.gay to contribute to this important historical archive.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Pro-Palestinian activists protest LGBTQ+ groupโs gala in NYC
Israel-Hamas war opposition to overshadow Pride events
NEW YORK โ More than 300 people who protested outside an Outright International gala on Monday criticized the organization for its โsilence and refusal to useโ its network โand advocacy to provide immediate relief to Palestiniansโ who remain in the Gaza Strip.
Members of ACT UP, the Audre Lorde Project and other groups who were outside Pier 60 in Manhattanโs Chelsea neighborhood handed out flyers that read โIsrael bombs queersโ and โno Pride in genocideโ as gala attendees arrived. A press release notes upwards of 100 people held a โdie-inโ for 241 seconds โto signify the 241 days of Israelโs bombardment of Palestine.โ
Actor Billy Porter is among those who Outright International honored at the gala.
Protest organizers in their press release noted Porter โsigned onto a statement in support of the Zionist state of Israelโ after Hamas, which the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization, launched its surprise attack against southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The press release also criticized Porter over his โproblematic comments in which he rebuffed James Baldwinโs anti-Zionist, pro-Palestinian stance while claiming to be the best person to direct and star in Baldwinโs biopic.โ
ACT UP further reiterated its demands for Outright International, which advocates for LGBTQ+ and intersex rights around the world.
โข Amplify the struggle to decolonize Palestine
โข Support local LGBTIQ Palestinian orgs with funding
โข Advocate at the United Nations to stop US-supported human rights violations
โข Disclose and divest from funders with links to Israel
Outright International on Oct. 27 publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Maria Sjรถdin, the groupโs executive director, on Monday noted the protest during their speech at the gala.
โActivism for a better world takes many forms, and that is a great thing,โ said Sjรถdin. โOne of those forms is to protest and some of you saw this action on the way in.โ
The Washington Blade attended the gala, and saw some attendees wearing keffiyahs and watermelon patches that have emerged as symbols of Palestinian solidarity since the war between Israel and Hamas began after Oct. 7. Gala attendees cheered when Sjรถdin said Outright International โsupports a peaceful protest without any reservation.โ
โOutright supports the spirit of the protest to bring attention to the loss of human lives,โ they said.
The Israeli government says Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people on Oct. 7, including at least 260 partygoers and others at the Nova Music Festival. The Israeli government on Tuesday said roughly 80 people who were taken hostage on Oct. 7 remain alive in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says more than 35,000 people have died in the enclave since the war began.
The International Criminal Court on May 20 announced it plans to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders โ Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. Karim Khan, the ICCโs chief prosecutor, said the five men have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and Israel.
โThe ICC prosecutorโs application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous,โ said President Joe Biden in a May 20 statement. โLet me be clear: Whatever this prosecutor (Khan) might imply, there is no equivalence โ none โ between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.โ
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday by a 247-155 vote margin approved a bill that would sanction the ICC. Forty-two Democrats supported the measure.
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), who is a vocal supporter of Israel, on Sunday in an X post said โanti-Israel activists tore down the flag honoring meโ on Fire Island as the first gay Afro-Latino person elected to Congress and โinstead put up a flag honoring queer Palestinians.โ The New York Democrat in another message wrote that ACT UP New York โproudly admits to illegally vandalizing the flag honoring me.โ
Pro-Palestine protesters on Sunday disrupted the Philadelphia Pride March.
The annual D.C. Dyke March, which will be called Dykes Against Ge(NO)cide this year, will take place in Lafayette Park on Friday. A โStop the Genocideโ protest is scheduled to occur in front of the White House on Saturday at noon.
The Capital Pride Parade will begin three hours later at 14th and T Streets, N.W. Porter is among those who are scheduled to perform at the Capital Pride Festival that will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., on Sunday.
The Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights are among the groups on Tuesday that demanded Pride parade and national LGBTQ+ rights groups โimmediately ban the corporations responsible for fueling the genocide in Gaza and worldwide colonial violence from sponsoring or participating in Pride events.โ The organizations also released a set of demands that include:
- Ban weapons manufacturers from both participation in and sponsorship of Pride events.
- Support Palestinians and their resistance efforts.
- Condemn and work to dismantle pinkwashing and homonationalism.
- Call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and an end to arming Israel.
- Cut ties with all organizations that profit from war, detention, and incarceration, environmental destruction, and displacement.
- Ban police from marching and participating in Pride, and denounce state violence.
โOver the past eight months, queer and trans people have been at the forefront of mobilizing for a liberated Palestine,โ said Firas Nasr, a nonbinary activist and organizer who is based in D.C., in a press release. โYet Pride organizations โ and national LGBTQIA+ orgs that claim to represent our community โ have largely remained silent while championing corporations behind the genocide.โ
Nasir is among the upwards of 200 people who marched from Dupont Circle to the Human Rights Campaign in February and called upon it and other LGBTQ+ rights organizations to โdemand an end to genocide and occupation of Palestine.โ No Pride in Genocide organized the protest.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Pride organizers called upon to ensure Jewish people can safely participate in events
A Wider Bridge sent letter to Capital Pride Alliance, other event organizers
NEW YORK โ A Wider Bridge has called upon Pride organizers across the country to ensure Jewish people can safely participate in their events.
The group, which โadvocates for justice, counters LGBTQphobia, and fights antisemitism and other forms of hatred,โ sent a letter to the Capital Pride Alliance and more than 60 other Pride organizers.
โWe know that the 2024 Pride season promises to be enormously important for our community,โ wrote A Wider Bridge Executive Director Ethan Felson. โWith LGBTQ+ rights under attack, our collective energy, commitment, and passion are needed more than ever. We deeply appreciate your tireless work to ensure that our voices are heard and that our community can come together, even in challenging times, to protest injustice and to celebrate our identities.โ
โWe write with a pressing concern,โ added Felson.
This yearโs Pride Month will take place eight months after Hamas launched its surprise attack against southern Israel.
The Israeli government says Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, including at least 260 partygoers and others at the Nova Music Festival. The Israeli government on Tuesday said roughly 80 people who were taken hostage on Oct. 7 remain alive in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says more than 35,000 people have died in the enclave since the war began. The National LGBTQ Task Force and Outright International are among the groups that have called for a ceasefire.
A press release that announced A Wider Bridgeโs letter notes antisemitic attacks increased 337 percent between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, and 93 percent of Jewish people said โantisemitism is a real problem in America.โ The press release further notes LGBTQ+ Jewish people โhave previously faced discrimination at Pride eventsโ that include three people who said organizers of Chicagoโs Dyke March in 2017 refused to allow them to participate because they had Jewish Pride flags.
โThis year, ahead of Pride, we are seeing and hearing about attacks online against queer Jewish and Zionist individuals,โ said A Wider Bridge in the press release.
The letter includes five recommendations for Pride event organizers.
- Engage with local LGBTQ+ Jews: Actively reach out to your local LGBTQ+ Jewish community, learn what their specific safety concerns are, and establish a relationship if you donโt already have one.
- Consult with safety personnel in advance: Assuming that law enforcement will be present at Pride, make it clear that they should respond to anti-Jewish harassment or violence according to agreed-upon protocols for any such behavior. Share relevant guidelines with Pride marshals and provide de-escalation training so they are equipped to reduce tensions.
- Carefully vet performers: In this tense political climate, it is more important than ever to vet performers both for the ability to speak respectfully to and about a diverse audience and to set clear expectations for performances at your event.
- Familiarize yourself with and display inclusive Pride flags: Jews have been excluded from Pride spaces for wearing a Jewish star or bringing Pride flags with Jewish stars, an ancient symbol of Jewish identity. Familiarize yourself with symbols that Jewish LGBTQ+ people may wear or display.
- Do not allow gate-keeping of LGBTQ+ Jews: Do not use litmus tests to determine which Jews are welcome at Pride, such as only permitting Jews with certain beliefs around or relationships with Israel and Palestine. All Jews should be welcome at Pride events.
Capital Pride has yet to respond to the Washington Bladeโs request for comment on the letter.
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Record number of students reached by HRCโs anti-bullying program
The programโs 9th annual National Day of Reading- โA Celebration of Stories Supporting Trans & Non-Binary Youthโ saw 36,000 participants
WASHINGTON โ The Human Rights Campaignโs Welcoming Schools program reached a record 750,000 students in fiscal year 2024 โ supporting communities that are contending with the dramatic rise, in recent years, of anti-LGBTQ harassment and reported hate crimes in schools.
Data on the expanded reach of HRCโs pre-K-12 anti-bullying program, now in its 16th year, was included in the groupโs fourth annual Welcoming Schools report, released on Tuesday.
โWelcoming Schools has continued to serve as a beacon, providing accessible training, resources, and actionable policies and practices at a time when proposals for anti-LGBTQ+ legislation specifically targeting our youth is at a devastatingly high level,โ the groupโs president, Kelley Robinson, said in the reportโs introduction.
A third of the more than 550 anti-LGBTQ bills that were introduced across the U.S. last year have targeted LGBTQ inclusion in classrooms, disproportionately impacting transgender and gender-expansive youth, HRC noted in a press release announcement.
The โunsurprising resultโ of these legislative attacks, the organization wrote, has been a documented rise in bullying and harassment encountered by queer youth in educational settings.
According to an analysis of FBI statistics reported in March by the Washington Post, โthe number of hate crimes on K-12 campusesโ in states with restrictive laws โhas more than quadrupled since the onset of a divisive culture war that has often centered on the rights of LGBTQ+ youth.โ
The paper also found that โcalls to LGBTQ+ youth crisis hotlines have exploded, with some advocates drawing a connection between the political climate and the spike in bullying and hate crimes.โ
And in a survey published in November by HRC and the University of Connecticut, nearly 60 percent of LGBTQ teens reported that they had experienced bullying in school over their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Cheryl Greene, senior director of the Welcoming Schools program, said in the press release that โthis work across local school districts is crucial to the success of our kids in school, especially as weโve seen and heard from families who are uprooting their lives and moving states just to find more accepting, inclusive environments.โ
โOur 2024 annual report showcases the tremendous impact of our trainings and resources in fostering environments where all students can thrive,โ she said.
Robinson highlighted that Welcoming Schoolsโ โlatest initiatives showcase our commitment to expanding opportunities for secondary-level training, making resources more accessible through Spanish translation, and embracing the power of e-learning.โ
This year, the programโs ninth annual National Day of Reading was titled, โA Celebration of Stories Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Youthโ saw 36,000 participants and reached 130,000 people on social media.
According to the report, โSince 2011, Welcoming Schools has trained educators in all 50 States, plus D.C., Aruba, Bahamas, Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, Honduras, Mexico, Qatar, Taiwan, and Uganda.โ
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Building support for trans rights by engaging conservatives
โIf you love your child, I need you to step back and love them enough to believe them when they tell you who they areโ
COLUMBIA, S.C. โ When conservative legislators endeavor to restrict the rights of transgender youth, such as by blocking access to gender-affirming healthcare, they betray their commitment to freedom from government intervention into the private lives of American families, combat veteran Eric Childs explains in a new ad by the Gender Research Advisory Council and Education.
The South Carolina father opens the ad by sharing how he is working to secure a future in which his trans child can enjoy โlife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,โ the same principles for which he served his country โin defense of freedom, fighting for democracy.โ
โI live in a small town in South Carolina,โ Childs says, as the ad shows him loading a handgun to practice target shooting with his son. โI absolutely believe in protecting my rights.โ
He then addresses his stateโs proposed bill to ban guideline-directed, medically necessary healthcare interventions for trans minors: โI ask that you respect the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom for this country, and vote no for Bill H. 4624.โ
โMy child has parents that get to decide his health care,โ Childs says. โIf you love your child, I need you to step back and love them enough to believe them when they tell you who they are. Love them. At all costs โ beyond everything.โ
Testifying before the South Carolina Legislature in January, Childs told lawmakers his familyโs healthcare decisions are not made on a โwhimโ and explained how he wants to guarantee his son has every medically recommended option available.
Along with blocking access to treatments that are supported by every mainstream scientific and medical society, H. 4624 would prohibit healthcare providers from facilitating minor patientsโ access to this care while also requiring school administrators to forcibly โoutโ trans students to their parents.
Alaina Kupec, founder and president of GRACE, told Bay Area Reporter that her new nonprofit โhas a specific mission that does not conflict with other nonprofits in the LGBTQ or transgender-specific spaceโ by working to โassist other groups in addressing misinformation about transgender people.โ
The groupโs members are in D.C. this week to meet with advocacy leaders and officials in the White House and on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday, the law firm Skadden Arps is hosting a fundraiser for GRACE that will feature Kupec alongside Rick Colby, a โlife-long Republican, Parents Advisory Councilmember of GRACE, and proud father of a transgender sonโ and โother leaders engaged on transgender issues.โ
LGBTQ Non-Profit Organizations
Trevor Project is hit with another round of layoffs
Prior to last week, employees were warned that reductions in the workforce were coming, including in an email from the interim CEO on Jan. 30
NEW YORK โ The worldโs largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth laid off six percent of its staff last week, which comes less than a year after 12 percent of its workforce was cut amid allegations of financial mismanagement and union-busting activities.
Three sources familiar with the matter, all of whom spoke with the Washington Blade on the condition of anonymity, said the move has only exacerbated flagging morale among some Trevor Project employees who, by and large, had already lost faith in leadership.
Trouble at the organization was first reported by the Blade in August of 2023. In the months since, the sources agreed that management has failed to turn around the organization while neglecting staff, including those who do the difficult and mission-critical work of fielding crisis calls.
Interim CEO says organization on solid footing
โThis decision, although very difficult, was necessary, and we committed to navigating it with care and purpose,โ the groupโs founder and interim CEO Peggy Rajski said in a written statement to the Blade confirming the layoffs.
โWe worked closely and transparently with our union representatives throughout the process, and appreciate the heart, integrity and understanding of all involved to help ensure the organizationโs longevity and ongoing ability to carry out its life-saving mission,โ she said.
Rajskiโs statement continues: โWe remain grateful for the dedication and contributions of each member of our team. I want to reassure everyone that our commitment to LGBTQ+ young people remains unwavering.
โOur mission to provide critical support and services to LGBTQ+ youth in crisis is as vital as ever. This restructuring enables us to sustain our quality core services, ensuring that we continue to be a reliable, steady resource for those in need. As always, we remain open 24/7 for any young person who needs us.
โIn these moments of change, The Trevor Projectโs promise of service remains strong. We thank our supporters and allies for their continuing support for the lifesaving programs we provide our beloved but all too often besieged LGBTQ+ youth.โ
Representatives for Friends of Trevor United, the union organized under the Communication Workers of America, did not respond to requests for comment. One source said the union was heavily involved in bargaining throughout the process but was not notified in advance of the date on which the layoffs occurred.
โThe mood is really gloomyโ
โThe volunteer training and experience teams were reduced by about a third,โ said the first source, who added that all levels of employees were affected by Wednesdayโs layoffs, from the โlowest-paid coordinators up to directors.โ
This source confirmed Rajskiโs claim that hotline services remain open 24/7, but noted there will be fewer volunteers โmoving forward with these changes to the team sizes.โ A second source said staff burn out had set in since the first round of layoffs last summer.
Prior to last week, employees were warned that reductions in the workforce were coming, including in an email from the interim CEO on Jan. 30 that was reviewed by the Blade.
โWe did not anticipate facing so much continued friction with our fundraising efforts in FY24,โ Rajski wrote. โDespite stringent actions that our whole organization has taken to reduce spending and bring in additional funding, we are facing major ongoing shortfalls in revenue.โ
The email further explained that layoffs would be accompanied by other cost-saving measures, including the reduction of discretionary expenses like non-essential hiring as well as travel and other project spends that are not โmission critical.โ
Nevertheless, the first source said, teams were already under pressure after major staffing reductions last year. โThe mood is really gloomy,โ the source said, with many employees expecting another round of cuts will happen in six to eight months.
โTrevor claims theyโve adopted cost-cutting measures since the last layoffs but theyโve hired externally for a bunch of roles, [executives] refused to take pay cuts, the org is way too top heavy as it is, and theyโve appeared to do little to nothing to revamp and revitalize fundraising efforts,โ the source added.
The three sources told the Blade that Rajski and other leadership at the organization have blamed financial woes on the anti-LGBTQ political climate that has become ascendant in the U.S. over the past few years.
However, they said, the influx of bills targeting the rights of queer and trans youth, which has increased the number of crisis calls fielded by Trevor and other youth-serving organizations, would, presumably, lead to increased rather than decreased fundraising capabilities.
โLet me be clear,โ the first source said. โThere is ZERO confidence from ground floor level employees in the interim CEO Peggy Rajski.โ
Rajski has โdemonstrated a complete lack of care and consideration for Trevor staff since she took over after Amitโs departure,โ she said, referring to Trevorโs former CEO Amit Paley, who left in November 2022.
Paleyโs tenure was also fraught. For example, the second source described how in August 2022 Trevor employees lost health insurance coverage for mental health services and gender affirming care, which was subsequently restored after an outcry from Trevor workers who โwere pissedโ about the cost-cutting measure.
The first source, recalling the Bladeโs story last summer, said that Rajski โhas created a hostile, traumatic working environment,โ and, referencing reporting in The Wrap, noted she had been accused of having an abrasive management style prior to her tenure at Trevor.
Employees have been made to feel they were โexpendable,โ the second source said.
As the Blade reported in August, Rajski reportedly objected to the negative feedback she had received during organization-wide meetings that allowed employees to share written comments or react with emojis.
The three sources said she has subsequently removed the functionality to share feedback with Google Meet, and instead began prerecording video messages that now constitute all-staff โmeetings,โ all while retaining management consulting firm KPMG to oversee the implementation of new values at the organization, which stress โheart, integrity, community, belonging, and progress.โ
The videos largely consist of leadership congratulating themselves, according to the second source, who along with the first source noted that Trevor Board Chair Julian Moore โ a partner at multinational law firm Allen & Overy โ announced earlier this year that the search for Rajskiโs replacement had begun.
After KPMG was brought in, the second source said, the environment became โsterileโ and โit felt like the only important people on the team were those making six figures rather than people actually doing the work.โ
โThe crisis workers are the lowest paid people in the organization,โ a source said, โwhich just baffles me because, you know, theyโre doing the literal work of the mission of the org.โ
The closest Rajski came to crediting the difficult work of those responsible for fielding crisis calls, the source said, was the refrain she has often repeated about how the organization must remember โwhatโs really important, the youth who we serve.โ
On Jan. 5, Friends of Trevor United โtook over Slack,โ the workplace messaging app, โto seek accountability, demand transparency, and share frustration around Managementโs delayed and undignified counter to our Unionโs wage increase proposal for the organizationโs performance review cycle.โ
The union shared several examples of concerns relayed by workers:
- โNot to sound like a broken record, but what IS our teamโs plan to make C-Suite understand the urgency here? Every time they delay it hurts us all. How are our vertical leaders ensuring upper management faces the consequences of their bad-faith bargaining? I have been giving it my all and this is a slap in the face. It took six weeks for management to return a proposal on wage increases. This is beyond unacceptable and not something any of us deserve.โ
- โI am echoing a sentiment of deep disappointment and concern here. Six weeks really underscores an apparent disparity in accountability. I have heard many of our leaders say they are committed to this in their values. I would love to have a clear answer in the next 24 hours of how we are effectively communicating to upper management the urgency of addressing this issue. We have diligently contributed to this orgs mission throughout the year. We need to see management reciprocate with a genuine commitment to good faith bargaining.โ
- โTrevor, whoever you are, you need to prove you are trustworthy.โ
- โI see the responses here, and in #org-announcementsโฆ but I can only hope it has been made abundantly clear that this is a collective wound. A wound that is deepening in many of us the realization that our hard work, loyalty, and commitment is continually met with indifferenceโฆ that all of our words are being minimized to the belief that the problem is โManagement disagreeing with the union.โ
- Managementโs empty-handed presence at the bargaining table, their responses in the channels weโve been silenced from responding inโฆ these things resonate as betrayal, as disrespect, and theyโre dehumanizing. It is a blatant disregard for the sacrifices weโve made throughout FY23. It is a painful reminder that our aspirations for fair treatment and recognition remain unfulfilled. For many of us, this stands as a stark symbol of shattered hopesโฆ shattered hope for ourselves as workers, for the young queer kids we once were, for the young people who we are still here for. Silence, or half-hearted responses, are echoing louder than any words spoken.
- For anyone genuinely listening, please understand that we are not merely seeking raisesโฆ we are yearning for the acknowledgement, the respect, and the fair treatment we all deserve.โ
In conversations with the Blade, the three sources said they believe in Trevorโs mission and its work, no matter their feelings about management. They said they hope speaking out will lead to some necessary changes at the organization, whose lifeline for at-risk queer youth has never been more vital.
After publication, a spokesperson for the Trevor Project reached out with three corrections:
โThe union was notified of the date in advanceโ of the layoffs.
โThe article inaccurately says that our all staff meetings are โpre-recordedโ videos. Rather, we hold a monthly staff meeting via livestream format to share important updates from staff across all levels of the organization. We use this time to highlight staff contributions to the organizationโs suicide prevention and intervention work, and the positive impact our organization makes on LGBTQ+ young people. This ensures that the space remains safe and productive for our entire community, and is a standard practice among large organizations with hundreds of remote employees.โ
โWhile there was some confusion and dissatisfaction around some changes to our health insurance coverage, it was generally due to roll out communications, and therefore staff had some untrue assumptions/perceptions about coverage. Here is a high level of the staff health insurance benefits from that period, which we shared in an all-staff email on Aug 18, 2022:
- The Trevor Project will cover 100% of premiums for ALL employee health insurance plans, including medical, vision, and dental
- Mental health care is free for in-network, meaning there are no copays, even before the deductible is reached, for mental health services. Out-of-network benefits will remain consistent with this past year
- All our plans cover gender-affirming surgery and care, including procedures like electrolysis, facial feminization, and pectoral implants
- The Trevor Project will cover 50% of premiums for dependents
- We have been able to extend the open enrollment period until Wednesday, Aug. 31โณ
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