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Friend, When Courage California made our name 17 years ago fighting fighting Proposition 8, we learned a powerful truth: civil rights battles are never fought in isolation. The forces that tried to deny marriage equality to LGBTQ+ Californians are the same ones attacking immigrant families, stripping away our reproductive freedom, and targeting Black and brown communities today. Right now, even here in California, we're witnessing an unprecedented assault on human rights. The Trump administration has seized control of California's National Guard forces from Governor Newsom, while federal authorities are sharing Californians' personal information with Homeland Security.(1) And, just this week, the Trump administration threatened to cut even more millions in federal funding if the state doesn't remove references to gender identity in sex education materials.(2) This is what intersectional attacks look like. When immigrant parents are afraid to seek health care for their children, LGBTQ+ families suffer too. When trans rights are stripped away, it emboldens those who would roll back reproductive freedom. When voting rights are under siege, all of us lose power. At L.A. Pride this month, we saw this truth in action. As thousands marched for LGBTQ+ equality, the conversation turned to immigration, racial justice, and women's rights. Because our communities understand what too many politicians refuse to acknowledge: injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. That's why Courage California doesn't pick and choose which fights to join. With our small but mighty team, we're building bridges between movements, amplifying the voices of grassroots partners and providing the tools they need to reach more people and make a bigger impact. When Lambda Legal needs to spread the word about LGBTQ+ immigrant rights, we're their megaphone. When the National Immigrant Justice Center launches a campaign for asylum seekers, we help them reach our 1.2 million members. When local organizers need petition signatures or rapid response actions, we provide the infrastructure they can't afford on their own. But here's the reality: with rights under attack on multiple fronts, we need resources to match the scale of the crisis. Our partners are doing heroic work with skeleton crews. Small organizations fighting for racial justice, reproductive freedom, and immigrant dignity need communications support, digital organizing tools, and a unified network that can move quickly when attacks come. With Courage, They Can. Will you chip in $20, or whatever you can, to help us stand strong for all our communities? We've always known that a more equitable and just California means fighting for everyone's rights, not just our own. In times like these, that's not just our mission--it's our moral imperative. The forces trying to divide us are counting on us to stay in our separate silos, focusing only on our own issues while they pick us off one by one. But they underestimate the power of solidarity. Together, we're stronger. Together, we win. In solidarity, –Irene, along with Annie, Angela, Isidra, Cecilia, Jen, and Lindsay (the Courage team) P.S. Every dollar you contribute goes directly to supporting grassroots partners who are fighting for justice in their communities. In a moment when federal resources are being weaponized against California, local organizing has never been more critical. Chip in now to help out.
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