Here's what we've learned after watching movements for years:
Organizations don't change the world. People do.
And for 35 years, Outright has been powered by people who witnessed something wrong and couldn't forget it. People who imagined something different, even when everyone said it was impossible. People who risked their jobs, their safety, sometimes their lives—because staying silent felt worse than speaking up. These people saw themselves as a part of something bigger, a greater movement where LGBTIQ people lived freely, with dignity, respect, and freedom from persecution.
You should meet some of them.
Julie Dorf Founder, 1990
"When we founded Outright 35 years ago, we couldn't have imagined both how far we'd come or the ferocity of today's backlash. This anniversary isn't just a celebration—it's about transferring hard-won knowledge while learning from a new generation that's refusing to accept These rollbacks as inevitable."
Jessica Stern Executive Director, 2012-2021 Former U.S. Special Envoy for LGBTQI+ Rights
"As U.S. Special Envoy, I saw up close how few governments intervene when LGBTQI+ people are attacked or criminalized. That dehumanization and its normalization is staggering. It’s why strong LGBTQI+ movements are essential—not only to demand justice for our communities, but to defend anyone targeted for who they are. We deserve far more than survival. We deserve safety, dignity, and joy."
Maria Sjödin Executive Director
"Since becoming Executive Director, I’ve watched governments weaponize our identities, cut funding, and try to intimidate entire communities into silence. But here’s what they underestimate: the global movement that Outright has helped build for 35 years. When crises hit, we don’t wait. We act. We get resources to those who need them, amplify voices that are being silenced, and protect the progress generations fought for. Today’s backlash is real, but so is the power we’ve inherited from those who came before us. And it’s what will carry us through the next 35 years."
Micheal Ighodaro Board Member, former Board Co-Chair
"As a queer refugee from Africa, I experienced the horrors of persecution first-hand — but I also experienced the power of courage. At a time when our communities face global backlash, I have witnessed activists challenging injustice, fighting for dignity, and raising their voices with extraordinary bravery. Today, I am grateful that Outright works alongside these courageous individuals and groups, helping their movements not only survive, but thrive — transforming courage into lasting change. This is power. This is courage.”
Glenroy Murray Equality for All Foundation Jamaica
"We've been doing LGBT rights work in Jamaica for over 26 years. As a small island development state, we are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change, including stronger hurricanes [...] It's so important for local and international communities to support these kinds of [relief] efforts. These are lifesaving initiatives that we're running to make sure our most vulnerable are spared from the worst possible things that could happen to them and none of that is possible without support from the wider LGBT community.”
These people — and tens of thousands of others — built this global movement. But here's the thing: You're part of it too.
Every person who donates. Every person who joins an event and shares our work. Every person who believes LGBTIQ rights aren't negotiable—you're in this story. And right now? As the backlash increases, we need to fortify our movement. Our next ask of you is pretty simple:
