Hello –

People are shouldering a lot right now. We’re four months into a pandemic that has taken more than 130,000 lives across the country and caused massive disruption. New COVID-19 infections are rising sharply in many states, including almost every state in the South. At the end of July, additional unemployment support for millions of people is set to expire (although Congress can and should extend and strengthen these safeguards). And for Black folks, including Black trans folks, regular news reports about the murders of Black people – most recently Merci Mack in Dallas and Brayla Stone in Little Rock, both Black trans women – have a retraumatizing effect, even as the long overdue and necessary national reckoning over racial injustice empowers and inspires. 

We are sending love, support, and solidarity as you navigate this time.

Our team at the Campaign for Southern Equality has continued to listen to what y’all need and that’s why today, we’re opening up another round of our COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Program (y haga clic aquí para Español). By the end of this round, we’ll have granted more than $200,000 in support to LGBTQ Southerners confronting the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

Here are the types of grants with applications currently open:

• Emergency Assistance Grants for Individuals and Families: LGBTQ Southerners are now able to apply for immediate financial support of $100, which can be used for needs like groceries, rent/mortgage payments, prescriptions or medical bills, and more. If you have already received an Emergency Assistance Grant in an earlier round, you are not eligible to apply in this round. Click here to apply with the application in English y aquí para la aplicación en español. If you live in the Charleston, SC area, our partners at We Are Family have sponsored a number of geographic-specific Emergency Assistance Grants, which you can apply for by clicking here for the application in English y aquí para la aplicación en español. 

• Community Response Grants in the Charleston, SC area and Western North Carolina: Anyone in the Charleston, SC area or in Western North Carolina (see eligible zip codes on the landing pages) can apply for a grant of up to $500 to fund a project to meet the needs of LGBTQ Southerners in response to COVID-19. If you're in the Charleston, SC area, click here to apply with the application in English y aquí para la aplicación en español. If you're in Western NC, click here to apply with the application in English y aquí para la aplicación en español.

Learn more about the COVID-19 Rapid Response Grant Program by clicking here for English. Y haga clic aquí para español.

Don’t need assistance right now but want to pass on the love and support to other LGBTQ Southerners? Click here to make a donation to support CSE and these COVID-19 Rapid Response grants – every dollar helps.

In service,
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
Campaign for Southern Equality