John, you’ve been hearing from Mayor Annise Parker and Elliot Imse about the Trump Administration cutting federal funding for global programs. But I wanted to talk to you about my team – and the hard work we’ve put in to grow and protect equality.

When the last Trump Administration ended, we had one staffer (me!) and a small budget. Funding was tight – the Administration had ended or slowed a lot of pro-equality funding, and we had to significantly reduce their programming.

But we have rebuilt – and expanded. Victory Institute’s Global team is small, but incredibly mighty. Now a staff of four, in the last four years we have:

• Created a global network of over 5,000 LGBTQ+ leaders working in 11 different countries;
• Ensured political parties and activists have the resources to defend and protect equality in their own countries;
• Work with partners on the ground to ensure that they have the resources to promote and defend global equality;
• Launched resources, guidelines and actionable steps that are used by some of the biggest names in global politics.

And we’ve built all that in just four short years. But with the Trump Administration’s spending cuts, our programming has come to a complete stop. We cannot continue to work – let alone expand – without urgent funding. Please, make a donation to the Defend Global Progress Fund to ensure we can keep working!

I am incredibly proud of the work my team has done to protect and defend LGBTQ+ rights, and it is infuriating that it can be so easily undone. But I know we are not alone, and we have a fierce and proud community standing with us.

John, these cuts are devastating. But together, we can stand against President Trump. Please, make a donation to support this team and defend these programs from Trump’s cuts!

Thank you so, so much,

Alhelí Partida
Pronouns: she|ella
Senior Director of Global Programs, LGBTQ+ Victory Institute