$1.5 million dollars, John.

That's how much our Trans Youth Emergency Project has directly distributed to families of trans youth as well as an incredible national network of frontline partners and providers supporting them as they access gender affirming care in the face of cruel healthcare bans.

I wanted to share this milestone as we mark the start of Transgender Awareness Week, a time of celebrating the stories and strength of the trans community ahead of Transgender Day of Remembrance. This spirit is exactly what TYEP is about. When trans youth are loved, affirmed, and supported, they are far less likely to struggle and can experience the freedom to grow into themselves, which all young people deserve. As politicians continue to attack trans youth and restrict their access to healthcare, TYEP will be there every step of the way with love, acceptance, and a clear path to the healthcare they need to thrive. This week is about resilience, and I'm proud that the Trans Youth Emergency Project follows in the footsteps of generations of trans people by getting creative, persevering in the face of whatever comes our way, and doing everything we can to build the world we deserve. 

I'm proud to share that we've directly distributed $1 million in direct travel grants to families of trans youth impacted by healthcare bans, plus another $500,000 to partners and providers supporting families locally. To celebrate this milestone, a generous donor is matching all donations up to $25,000 – please donate $100, $10, or anything you can give today to make your donation to this life-saving work go twice as far.

The Trans Youth Emergency Project has been a beacon of hope for thousands of families – we've provided navigation support or distributed grants to families in all 50 states and hosted Town Halls to share critical updates. With every restriction and attack on healthcare access for trans youth, we've grown to meet the moment and make sure no one is shut out of care because of where they live. As we approach the last few months of the year, our team has been thinking hard about how to recognize and thank the donors that have made all of this possible. 

With that in mind, we're excited to announce a new program for donors: The Sweet Tea Circle! Any donor who gives each month (even if it's $1 per month!) or gives a total of $1,000 in a year is automatically a member. Our generous donors, and recurring support, ensure that we can lead and expand TYEP with confidence, and we want to recognize that reliability with some exciting new perks, including:

• Special invitations to donor gatherings and events
• Subscription to the Sweet Tea Round-Up Newsletter
• Postcard artwork from Southern Equality Studios
• Our unending gratitude 

Thank you for all you've done to help TYEP touch the lives of so many families, and for fueling more than $1.5 million in TYEP grants. We're not slowing down, and this work – and members of the Sweet Tea Circle – have become an essential lifeline for families as bans, clinic closures, and federal attacks intensify. Donate today to help us mark these milestones, and your contribution will go twice as far with our $25,000 match.

This work isn't always easy, but I'm honored to do it every day alongside our team. We are proud to be helping build the world that trans youth deserve, through TYEP and so much of our work at the Campaign for Southern Equality. We will build a more loving and accepting world, brick by brick and grant by grant, and I hope you feel proud, too – you've made all this work possible. 

With gratitude and hope for what we can do together,
Allison Scott
She/Her
Director of Impact and Innovation
Campaign for Southern Equality