Dear John,

As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, we hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy and finding ways to stay hopeful and connected.

I want you to know that OutRight has been working very hard to ramp up our response to support LGBTIQ people and organizations. During times of crisis, vulnerable communities become even more vulnerable. LGBTIQ people already experience barriers to access to health, high levels of domestic and family violence, and scapegoating for crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, LGBTIQ people are also cut off from community centers and gatherings where we can be ourselves, feel supported, and safe. Our friends and partners tell us they are also facing income loss, food scarcity, homelessness, and more.

Two weeks ago we launched the OutRight COVID-19 Global LGBTIQ Emergency Fund. The fund was launched in collaboration with founding partners Calvin Klein, Inc., Microsoft Corp. and the Dunn Family Charitable Foundation. It will offer emergency financial resources to LGBTIQ organizations around the world who are serving people impacted by COVID-19, and support OutRight’s work to document and respond to the impacts of the crisis on LGBTIQ communities. So far we have raised $130,000 - with the help of individuals like you who want to support our community globally. You can also join us by making a donation or spread the word about the campaign.

Today we open for applications to organizations who work directly with and for LGBTIQ people (including MSM groups, trans groups, LBQ groups and intersex groups), and are based outside the USA, Canada, the European Economic Area, the UK, Switzerland, Australia or New Zealand. We expect to grant approximately $100,000 to groups working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic by early May. If your group is eligible or you know of an organization that needs emergency funding, please direct them to our website for more information. 

This week we also launched another new initiative - OutRight TV - a video and podcast series bringing to light stories of LGBTIQ people and allies from across the globe, and how they are coping in light of the growing COVID-19 pandemic. Through OutRight TV we aim to foster connectivity between the global LGBTIQ community at a time of increasing social distancing and isolation. The series will shed light on the amplified ways in which COVID-19 and its impact affect LGBTIQ people and communities, and how we are coping. I urge you to tune in - we are hearing unique and inspiring stories, as well as finding common experiences and sources of solidarity across borders. 

I send you my best wishes for your health and safety, and I invite you to stay connected and engaged with OutRight during this uncertain time. We will get through this together! 

With gratitude and in solidarity,

Jessica Stern
Executive Director

P.S. If you work for a company or foundation that may be interested in joining us, or that will match your donation, please contact Elise Colomer-Cheadle at [email protected] for more details.