Dear John, 

One year ago, two of the nation’s leading trans rights organizations merged to create Advocates for Trans Equality. In just twelve months, we have built a unified voice for our community, strengthened the movement for trans equality, and connected with thousands of supporters and allies. None of this would have been possible without people like you who believe that every trans person deserves dignity, equality, and opportunity. 

Just like Andy Marra, our CEO, said in 2024, our organizations joined teams because trans leaders had the foresight to prepare for the very moment we now face. In forming A4TE, we better positioned ourselves against extremist opponents. Let me share a little bit of what we’ve been up to. 

In our first year, we combined legal analysis, coalition advocacy, and rigorous research to blunt the impact of Trump’s anti-trans orders, shape their implementation, and push back on government overreach.  

In response to the many proposed anti-trans policies, A4TE organized our community to generate over 121,000 emails and phone calls to state legislators, members of Congress, and federal agencies, demanding that they oppose dangerous and misinformed legislation. 

In collaboration with state and local advocates, we provided the critical analysis and strategy that helped stop 90% of 700+ anti-trans bills—including every single harmful bill in South Carolina—protecting thousands of transgender people and their families. 

Through friend-of-the-court briefs, A4TE represented trans voices in key cases before the Supreme Court. A4TE lawyers filed amicus briefs in Mahmoud v. Taylor, U.S. v. Skrmetti, and Chiles v. Salazar, ensuring that the lived realities shape the decisions that impact the trans community. 

A4TE also released the U.S. Trans Survey Health & Wellbeing Report, a landmark study that demonstrates the importance of access to gender-affirming health care for trans people. More than 90,000 trans and nonbinary individuals participated in the survey, resulting in an accurate, nuanced portrait of trans people residing in the United States. We are grateful to all of you who participated and our movement partners who made this study possible.

When we merged to become A4TE, we knew the road ahead would be hard. This past year, Trump and other extremists have greatly escalated their attacks on our community, dismantling existing protections and passing cruel anti-trans policies. In 2025 alone, they attempted to strip away our healthcare, ban trans youth from sports, and restrict our access to accurate identity documents.

Trump’s campaign of hatred and division is relentless—but so is our movement. When the Trump Administration released an Executive Order attacking trans people we held community briefings, updated resources, and wrote explainers on what it meant to ensure that community members knew their rights. And as Agencies tried to implement these Orders, we mobilized thousands of trans people and allies to act and speak out. Thank you for using your voice to slow or stop these actions.

There are many more fights to win and challenges to weather. But I have confidence that we have what it takes. Why? Because of you. I believe in our supporters—the people who hear our stories, stand besides us, and see their own families and futures reflected in our work. We have the power to define this moment and decide the course of trans rights in this country. On this one-year anniversary of A4TE, I invite you to seize this opportunity with me. Together, we can create a brighter future for all of us.

Jami Westerhold (she/her) 
Chief Advancement Officer
Advocates for Trans Equality 

Advocates for Trans Equality