The fight for equal rights and representation of all — regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation — is ongoing. But during June, companies, brands, and individuals paint the world rainbow to raise awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to walking in parades and standing and speaking up for the marginalized, there are also many local, national and international charities worth your time and money. If you want to make a difference this June (and hopefully, beyond!), here’s a list of worthwhile causes to help your LGBTQIA+ friends and family:
OutRight Action International
Headquartered in New York City, this organization has staff in 12+ countries and documents human rights violations. Since 1990, they’ve worked to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ people across the globe by teaming with diplomats, activists, policymakers, and other change-creators to pave the road to equality. Their work and progress earned them a consultative status at the United Nations. Through their three focus areas — advocacy, movement resourcing, and research — they have funded more than 1.2 million to groups in 65 countries in the last year alone.
For Pride Month, they launched their annual #PrideWithAPurpose campaign on June 1 to commemorate the history of Pride and celebrate progress in recognizing the human rights of LGBTQIA+ people.
To get involved, you can donate to their OutRight programs and sign up for news alerts that share events and volunteer opportunities.
The American Civil Liberties Union
Better known as the ACLU, this organization has one critical mission: to be there for all people, regardless of who they are, and fight for their equality. In addition to tirelessly fighting the good fight for the LGBTQIA+ community, they also stand up for immigrants, reproductive rights, and more. Their work is focused on protecting the given liberties guaranteed under the law, and considering that gay and trans rights are at risk, it’s essential to support the ACLU more than ever.
You can help them win by donating and raising awareness through social media channels. If you’re a lawyer, there are also ways to donate your education and skill set. Many states of local chapters of the ACLU, so look for ways to become involved in your zip code, too.
Texas Pride Impact Funds (TPIF)
Created in 2013, this organization tracks more than 250 non-profit organizations across Texas that provide programming and services to local LGBTIQ+ communities. Then, TPIF’s grantmaking is prioritized to serve ‘historically under-resourced communities of Texas,’ where smaller organizations do not typically have access to traditional funding sources yet are doing vital work. In other words: consider this a way to boost grassroots organizations and movements to provide assistance where it’s needed the most.
TPIF’s Pride Month activities will focus on honoring people of transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer experiences by fundraising to bring desperately needed resources. Through a partnership with Equality Texas, TPIF recently announced that $40,000 of rapid response funding is underway for grassroots nonprofits serving trans individuals, families, and communities. The partnership is also launching the Queer Texas Crisis Fund (QTCF) 2022 fundraising campaign commencing with the start of Pride Month.
To get involved, you can donate to the most populous state in the U.S., where 10 percent of the LGBTQIA+ community lives. If you’re local, you can also volunteer.
Out & Equal
Your workplace doesn’t have the right to discriminate against you, and that’s a right Out & Equal works to protect. They are a non-profit that focuses on providing a culture of equality and a safe place for all employees in workplaces across the country. Unfortunately, some workplaces would like to deny this right, but your gender identity and sexual orientation shouldn’t matter when you go into the office.
When you donate to Out & Equal, they use these funds to train human resources leaders and executives on how to support their LGBTQIA+ employees.
National Runaway Safeline
Since 1971, this organization has been a resource for homeless and at-risk youth who find themselves on the streets. Because of their 24/7 hotline, they can help more than 125,000 individuals and families find crisis services and prevention programs. How does this impact the LGBTQIA+ community? LGBTQIA+ youth are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness, and they are at a greater risk of facing violence during homelessness. In fact, in 2021, nearly 1,900 people who contacted Safeline identified themselves as gender non-conforming or transgender.
For Pride Month, the National Runway Safeline is selling Pride T-shirts month, and openly, LGBTQIA+ staff members are sharing videos about the importance of family — biological or chosen — on social media channels.
To get involved, you can become a crisis services volunteer and be there for runways when they call into the hotline. You can also donate money and get involved in other ways. Learn more here.
Center for Black Equity
Hence their name, this organization fights for equity for Black members of the LGBTQIA+ community across all facets of life — from economics and health to social injustices. It’s been considered a leader for this marginalized group, and their work is deeply focused on the local, grassroots level to serve those in states and cities that need it the most. To get involved with this organization, you can donate money, spread awareness, and support local chapters.
The Trevor Project
With a focus on LGBTQIA+ youth under the age of 25, The Trevor Project provides a real-time 24-hour hotline to serve those at suicide and homelessness risk. Those in need can call, text, or chat whenever and however much they need at no cost. In addition to this vital resource, they continue to be relentless activists for this community, providing research and safe spaces to connect in-person and online.
To get involved with The Trevor Project, you can donate funds, volunteer, and discover more opportunities to pave the road to equality here.
