As we enter Pride month and there are more visible signs of support everywhere, we knew this would provide additional opportunities to attack and deny the right to celebrate LGBTQ+ lives and our right to exist. We are seeing this play out in real time in news headlines and on social media.

Yesterday, as a result of the pushback against corporate institutions -  blatantly organized by extremist groups - GLSEN partnered with leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations in calling on the business community to stand up against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. 

As a result of standing up for our community, in the last 24 hours GLSEN has received over 42 million impressions resulting in thousands of hateful messages and threats to our mission, and our staff’s safety.

The right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation and hate machine - Fox News, Breitbart, the NYPost and others - have put GLSEN and our mission to create safe and affirming schools for every single LGBTQ student in their cross-hairs. 

They are betting that we will back down. 

We. Will. Not.

They are betting that YOU, our sponsors and supporters, will abandon us and our work to ensure that every kid, in every school in this country is safe, seen and celebrated - without exception. 

Right now I need you to prove them wrong.

You know us and what we stand for.

Don’t be distracted by the sensationalization of this narrative. 

But most importantly, don’t be pushed into silence or tricked into thinking that if we are silent, or afraid, or give up that their attacks will end with our organization, our staff, or our community. It won’t, because bullies don't stop until you stop them.

As a nation, we have to be better than this. We cannot let a violent angry minority hold our democracy, our school system or our community hostage. 

We must continue and accelerate our push for a school system that includes every child and a democracy where we all belong. 

Our voices need to be louder. 

Our actions must be bolder. 

Our allies — and anyone who believes that every single kid deserves to go to school free from fear — must show up for us and rise up with us.

We call upon you to not lose hope and faith in what is possible now. We call on you to stand strong with GLSEN, to defend the right for all people to feel seen, be safe, and have access to public accommodations that all members of our community should enjoy. 

As GLSEN and LGBTQ+ people continue to face attacks, we’re committed to our mission and ask you to support us. Students need us to stand with them. They need to know they are not alone.

In solidarity,

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers

Executive Director

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers/They, Them, Theirs

PS. Your gift today will help ensure that these extremist attacks will not be the norm and vulnerable students and educators receive the support they need.

GLSEN believes that every student has the right to a safe and inclusive K-12 education.

We are a national network working to make this right a reality.

GLSEN Inc.
110 William Street
30th Floor
New York, NY 10038
United States

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