Dear John,
Our community is feeling a deep ache and sense of loss this week. We are confronted by an immediate threat from Project 2025—an extremist plan to dismantle the protections our elders fought so tirelessly for, unraveling the fabric of safety and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth across this country.
Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and so many paved the way for the rights and respect we have today. They stood against abuse, hate, legal discrimination, not just for themselves but for generations yet to come. Today, that legacy calls to us. We must continue the fight for our youth—their safety, their dignity, and their future.
Project 2025 threatens to undo the strides we’ve made, particularly for those who need protection most. For LGBTQ+ youth—especially Black LGBTQ+ youth and LGBTQ+ undocumented youth of color—the stakes are dangerously high. If this plan succeeds, they will face increased discrimination, diminished safe spaces, and a heartbreaking erasure of legal recognition, especially for our transgender youth.
But as author Kelly Hayes reminds us in Let This Radicalize You:
“We’re going to show up for each other, figure out what we need to learn, skill up, and fight for each other. Because we’re gonna have to. Let’s ground ourselves in our values and our refusal to abandon one another. Remember who you want to be, come what may, and move in the direction of your values.”
Today, that call to action is louder than ever. While we grieve the challenges ahead, we know that hope is a discipline. We stand ready to come back stronger and more united. Together, we must protect our young people from policies that threaten their well-being, education, and very right to exist without fear. GLSEN will not back down. We are committed to creating safe, inclusive schools where every student can thrive.
According to GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey, 82% of LGBTQ+ youth already feel unsafe at school. Without our action, these numbers will only rise, placing our young people in more hostile environments. This is a matter of life, safety, and well-being.
We cannot do this alone. Please join us in this critical fight for equality and justice. Your monthly gift will help us protect LGBTQ+ youth, equip educators to create inclusive classrooms, and advocate for policies that shield young people from discrimination and harm.
[Donate Now] > [link removed]
In addition to donating, you can take immediate action. Congress has tools at its disposal to address identity-based bullying and commit resources to enforcing safer learning environments where every child is valued. Speak out today and urge policymakers to address bullying in schools!
While we grieve a loss this week, we know that hope is a discipline, and resilience is our inheritance. Together, we must rise stronger, just as our elders did.
Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
Pronouns: she, her, hers/they, them, theirs
Executive Director
GLSEN Inc.
244 Madison Ave.
#108
New York, NY 10016
United States
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