Dear John,

As 2025 comes to a close, A4TE’s directors wanted to share reflections on this year’s achievements and what’s ahead with you, our community of supporters. Read on for updates from our Organizing, State Policy, and Legal departments, and if you are able, please make a gift to support this work today.

Sybastian Smith (he/him), A4TE Director of Organizing 

"This year, together we defeated the federal anti-trans sports ban bill with the help of over 9,000 supporters, we mobilized our volunteers to send 62,000 comments to protest the State Department changes to passport renewal rules, we led resistance efforts against attacks on trans rights in 18 states, and we brought our communities into the streets for powerful rallies.

I couldn’t be prouder of our staff organizers and of our community for what we were able to do this year.  Despite the cruel onslaught from the Trump administration, our collective strength didn’t just meet the moment—it defined it."

You can propel all of us even further in 2026 by making a year-end gift to support this work.

Donate to support the Organizing Department

Alana Jochum (she/her), A4TE Director of State Policy 

"With the federal government attempting to roll back protections for trans people across the nation, defeating bad policies and advancing supportive policies at the state level became even more critical this past year.

From South Carolina, where we helped AFFA defeat every standalone piece of anti-trans legislation, to partnering with PROMO in Missouri—the state with the second most anti-trans bills in the country—to disrupt a ballot initiative to ban abortion and transition-related care for trans youth, to supporting TENT in Texas with legal analysis, policy support, and mobilization to defeat the majority of the 150+ anti-trans bills introduced this year, our impact was in our ability to collaborate with state leaders, organizers like Sybastian, and supporters like you.” 

Thank you for advocating alongside us!

Donate to support the State Policy Department

Gabriel Arkles (he/him) and Ezra Cukor (he/they), A4TE Co-Interim Legal Directors 

“In a year of escalating attacks, our legal strategy is both a shield and a path forward, defending our rights while building the foundation for lasting change.  Our multifaceted legal strategy enables our experts to lead the charge for trans rights in diverse ways. In 2025, we worked on amicus briefs in the Supreme Court cases Mahmoud v. Taylor, Chiles v. Salazar, Hecox v. Little and West Virginia v. B.P.J., alongside a number of lower court cases. 

We continue litigating for the coverage of transition-related surgeries around the nation, including our lawsuit Gordon v. Aetna, challenging exclusions to crucial facial feminization surgeries. And so much more. Thanks to you we proved that impact litigation can protect our rights and fight for our future." 

Donate to support the Legal Department

These three departments, alongside our Federal Policy, Research, Voting and Elections, and Public Education departments are all doing the crucial, active work of this movement. They are shaping the policies and strategies that will protect and advance the rights of trans people in this country. Support all of them, and this movement, before the year ends with a donation today. 

Sincerely,
Advocates for Trans Equality 

Advocates for Trans Equality