How far we’ve come

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Hi John,

I know many folks are celebrating holidays on top of Transgender Day of Visibility today, so I'll keep this quick – I just wanted to uplift Allison's note from this week about the fantastic strides we've made in visibility, and the importance of our Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP).

Right now, even more states – including my home state of South Carolina – are considering legislation to ban medically necessary, gender-affirming care for trans youth, so our STYEP program is growing to bridge the gap and ensure no child is denied the healthcare they need to thrive. We currently serve more than 80% of trans youth nationwide living in states with a ban, and while we're fighting hard to prevent any more bans from passing, we've had to face the hard truth that our program is likely to continue growing this year as more harmful legislation goes into effect or passes local legislatures.

Getting trans youth to the healthcare they need to thrive is our guiding star, and support from people like you is essential to making this support possible. If you're able, please consider supporting the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project with a donation of $10 or more today. ([link removed])

I'm immensely thankful for each and every one of you. This work isn't easy, but I find so much hope and inspiration in my conversations with those who've been helped by this program. The resilience and love in our community is our greatest strength, and no one can ever take that away from us.

Thank you for all that you do – this really wouldn't be possible without you.

Ivy Hill
They/Them
Gender Justice Director
Campaign for Southern Equality

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Allison Scott, Campaign for Southern Equality
Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 4:37 PM
Subject: Celebrating Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️‍⚧️

John,

We're a few days early – but Happy Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)! I know it's not official until Sunday, but I couldn't wait to reach out and celebrate the weekend together. I'm so proud of this community – we're doing amazing things, making great strides personally and professionally, and uplifting each other in the face of adversity every day. We've come so far in public acceptance, media representation, legal recognition, and so much more. It's hard to describe what it's like to be trans in 2024, versus what I experienced just 10 years ago, let alone when I was growing up.

Unfortunately, extreme anti-LGBTQ+ forces have responded to this fantastic rise in visibility and support with harmful, discriminatory legislation targeting our legal equality, particularly impacting trans youth. In 24 states and counting, medically necessary healthcare for trans youth is outright banned or restricted, and now 89% of trans youth in the South live in a state where they can't access the healthcare they need to thrive.

Gender-affirming care is medically necessary, life-saving care for trans youth, and we'll never stop fighting to make sure youth and their families can access it wherever they live. Please donate to support the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project and help us meet our goal of raising $10,000 before TDOV ends. ([link removed])

When the trans youth healthcare bans started passing in 2023, we jumped into action with the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP) to help these kids travel to the care they need, regardless of where they live. Since then, your support has helped more than 1,000 families and individuals as we've distributed more than $400,000 in grants to make sure they can get the care they need to thrive.
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I truly wish this program didn't have to exist but together, we've built a community of resilience, compassion, and action. No one should have to travel long distances for healthcare, especially not kids who are already dealing with enough as they grow into themselves and find their place in the world. But as long as extremists are focused on attacking trans youth, we'll be here to make sure they can always get the healthcare they need – and we will never stop fighting for trans youth to get this care in their home state.

Our STYEP program supports trans youth living under healthcare bans with patient navigation, grants to help offset travel costs, and more. Donate today to help us continue supporting trans youth however and wherever they need. ([link removed])

The harmful legislation we've been targeted with doesn't represent the will of the majority, and it can't stop the inherent strength and determination of our community – keep your head up, and keep pushing for the life you want. You deserve it, and cruel laws or rhetoric can't take it away from you.

Thank you for all that you do – and I hope you find a nice way to mark Transgender Day of Visibility this weekend.

Thank you,
Allison Scott
She/Her
Director of Impact & Innovation
Campaign for Southern Equality
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