Dear Friend,

I don't want to be too doom and gloom, but there's really no place that's safe for LGBTQ Americans. I'm thankful for the advocates we work with in even the most hostile states, but the fact remains that we can't shift culture until we put an end to anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.

Will you help GLAAD shut down hate and misinformation with a gift today?

If there's one thing my work on the ground in states with the largest anti-LGBTQ strongholds has taught me, it's that there is incredibly strong support for our community. People love and support their friends and their neighbors — but many don't know what's at stake for us. That's where you come in.

I've been lucky enough to meet a lot of incredible people through my work with the GMI — including alum Leigh Finke. You may have heard of her. She's a dedicated leader, author, filmmaker, and advocate, turning LGBTQ media advocacy into proactive action as the first out transgender lawmaker in Minnesota. If you haven't followed her political career, you've likely read her op-eds in The Hill, USA TODAY, The Advocate, and more.

I'm proud to say that State Rep. Finke recently joined me and other advocates at the Democratic National Convention to brief delegates and the media on the state of support for LGBTQ Americans. As part of a four-person panel, she shared her own stories and experiences to illuminate GLAAD's Accelerating Acceptance report findings — and let me just say, everyone in the room felt the weight of her words. Thanks to support from people like you, she learned skills that are helping her change the world and rewrite the narrative on acceptance.

There's a lot of news out there, and it is hard to parse out what the impact is for the LGBTQ community when you're overwhelmed by everything else going on. And so, making LGBTQ stories and issues personal makes a big difference. We know from GLAAD's 2024 Accelerating Acceptance report that along with personal experience, seeing trans representation in film and TV is the greatest positive influence on how the trans community is perceived.

Every day, I get to come into work and make a tangible difference in the lives of LGBTQ Americans. That's because of people like you. So thank you! I hope you'll support our work toward 100% acceptance. With you by our side, we can shift the momentum of LGBTQ hate and rhetoric.

P.S. Did you know that for every $1 you give, nearly 80 cents will go directly toward funding programs like the GMI courses Leigh attended in the Twin Cities? Please make a gift today that accelerates acceptance!