It can feel daunting and stressful wondering if a book you read in a classroom or if receiving gender-affirming care is considered breaking the law. However, certain organizations are fighting for a better world for LGBTQ+ people. And, with Pride month here, there are many ways you can contribute to efforts for equity and equality of the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some reminders of available resources, as well as ways to contribute during Pride!
Florida
Walkout 2 Learn
Walkout 2 Learn is a student-led organization which protests state legislation that bans teaching the histories of LGBTQ+ people, people of color and women. They argue that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing schools in the wrong direction. And the youth organizers want to change that for not only students, but also for society as a whole.
Their last day of action was on April 21, but people can still access their tool kit and keep an eye out for any updates through their newsletter, or their social media pages.
Equality Florida
Equality Florida works to lobby against homophobic and transphobic pieces of legislation. They also provide educational resources for staff and students, as well as an election center and advocacy around different health issues, such as HIV. Folks can check out different volunteer opportunities on their website.
Arizona
One-N-Ten
One-N-Ten is an Arizona-based organization working to provide LGBTQ+ youth with a safe space to be themselves. They do this through their housing and workforce program called Promise Of A New Day program (POND) as well as community events. They provide community training sessions and people can get involved through volunteering as well. The type of volunteering someone does vary on the type of need the organization has.
Texas
Equality Texas
Equality Texas is an organization that vehemently fights for the equality of LGBTQ+ Texans through political advocacy. The organization will host several events throughout the summer of 2023, and anyone interested can volunteer or simply be in community with other LGBTQ+ folks. In order to facilitate change on a political level, Equality Texas also provides forms for people to share their stories, which folks can use to make a case for equality in a political environment.
The Kind Clinic
The Kind Clinic is a Texas-based organization that provides no-cost sexual health services in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. They offer care including but not limited to: hormone therapy, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and STI testing. Although some medications through the Kind Clinic do cost money, there are advocates who work to ensure that a client is paying as little as possible for their care. To help, people can volunteer or donate to the Kind Clinic to contribute to their efforts!
Online
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is a widely known nonprofit organization that offers a 24-hour crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ people. If you or someone you know is in need of urgent mental health assistance, you can contact the Trevor Project through phone call, online chat or text. The phone number for the Trevor Project is 1-866-488-7386, and their chat services can be contacted by texting START to 678678.
Emma Schulman, (she/they) is a journalism and political science major at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Ivelisse Diaz, (she/they) is a college student studying psychology from Oakland, California.
Edited by Shaylyn Martos