Hi there –

Good news: Since the last week of March, our team has disbursed $55,000 in grants to LGBTQ Southerners grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants are directly supporting individuals and families with needs like rent and prescriptions, fueling new community response projects, and sustaining mighty frontline organizations that provide direct services to folks during these challenging times.

Now we’re hard at work to fundraise for the next round so we can reopen applications as soon as possible and respond to the increasingly urgent needs of our community. And we have good news – a generous donor has offered a matching challenge to the Campaign for Southern Equality’s next round of COVID-19 Rapid Response Grants.

We’re kicking off this donation challenge today – and we need your help. Click here to support LGBTQ people in Southern states, and for every dollar you give, a generous donor will give two more: Your $10 gift becomes $30, and your $100 gift becomes $300. 

The pandemic has impacted communities around the world – but public health experts have zeroed in on the South as particularly vulnerable in these times because of a patchwork of guidance when it comes to sheltering in place, high rates of chronic diseases and HIV across the region, and limited capacity at some health facilities. All of this has heightened the urgency of these grants.  

If you’re able to support the next round of grants, thank you. Here’s how you can make your donation, which will be immediately matched.

Additionally, we’ve got another full week – one event each day – of webinars on The Front Porch, our virtual gatherings for the #LGBTQSouth. Check out this week’s offerings, and please RSVP to get the dial-in information.

Take care,
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Campaign for Southern Equality

THE FRONT PORCH SCHEDULE

April 20 – April 24
 

MONDAY – #LGBTQSouth Community Support Group
April 20 • 12:00–1:00pm ET
Gather with other LGBTQ Southerners for virtual time together without a formal agenda. As we all responsibly practice social distancing, it’s more important than ever to seek out new ways to get connected, get to know each other, share how we’re feeling during this challenging time, and build community together. Kick off your week with this lunchtime gathering, hosted by CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill. Click to RSVP.

TUESDAY – Southern Equality Studios’ Queer Artist Meet-Up Goes Virtual 
April 21 • 4:00–5:30pm ET
If you’re a queer artist or creative in the South, join us for weekly discussions and tutorials. This week, we’ll learn to fly with Liz! It's okay if you're afraid of heights – this is a Photoshop skill share. This space will be facilitated by Al Murray, CSE’s Director of Engagement and Organizational Development, and Liz Williams, CSE’s Artist in Residence. Click to RSVP.

WEDNESDAY – Wellness Wednesday: Stretches & Cranial Massages for Stress Relief and Centering
April 22 • 4:00–5:00pm ET
Come participate in light stretches and cranial massages. CSE’s Director of Healing and Resilience Holiday Simmons will teach introductory cranial massages that can be done on yourself or someone else, including children! These practices have been known to calm the nervous system, relieve tension and headaches, and support vitality.  Click to RSVP.

THURSDAY – Trans Health in the South: A Listening & Resource Sharing Session
April 23 • 5:30–6:30pm ET
Join Michael Hoeben, Trans/HIV Bridge & Retention Coordinator at Western NC Community Health Services, and CSE’s Community Health Program Director Ivy Hill for a webinar on trans health, especially as it relates to COVID-19 and other consequences of the pandemic. Michael and Ivy will share updates from their work and leave plenty of time for questions. We’re here to listen to trans and nonbinary folks from across the South about what you need, and what questions you may have – whether about COVID-19, sexual health, or any other concerns related to health and healthcare. Click to RSVP.

FRIDAY – J. Chong Eats: A Cooking Show for These Times (Episode 3)
April 24 • 2:00–3:00pm ET
Join professional chef J. Chong, a CSE board member, for an accessible and fun take on healthy eating and easy recipes you can make at home. J. will prepare a meal in real time, answer your questions, and teach you strategies for staying fed and healthy in this era of social distancing. Click to RSVP.

See the homepage for The Front Porch.