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Dear John,

In 2021, in Kyrgyzstan, an LGBTQIA+ organization we partnered with participated in a women's march. Rainbow flags were distributed and messages of solidarity echoed across the plaza. It was a moment of visibility and hope.

Fast forward to 2025, and the movement for LGBTQIA+ equality has been forced underground. Within a year of that march, right-wing politicians passed a law prohibiting "gay propaganda"—making it a crime to advocate for queer rights.

Kyrgyzstan is not alone. Russia, Georgia, and Hungary have similar laws. Turkey and Kazakhstan are considering them. Ghana and Uganda have passed comparable legislation. In the United States, the groundwork is being laid for similar restrictions, with the Trump administration issuing executive orders against what it calls the "indoctrination of children into gender ideology."

These attacks are not coincidental. Eroding the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and marginalized communities is the first step in the authoritarian playbook towards restricting everyone's rights and consolidating power. The global rise in authoritarianism is made possible by a well-coordinated, well-resourced anti-rights movement that spans continents and uses identical tools, talking points, and tactics.

To fight back, we need feminist movements; they are already on the frontlines of defending democracy. Tested by fire for decades, they have developed tactics to resist, adapt, and subvert authoritarian power. They know how to operate under pressure. They know how to survive.

Right now, feminist activists we support are doing extraordinary work:
* In the United States, our partners are defending reproductive justice through civic engagement and voter registration. One partner mobilized 50,000 youth and voters of color.
* In Syria, our partners are advocating to ensure all communities' voices are reflected in the new government and women's rights are enshrined in legislation, organizing dialogue between different sides of the political conflict.
* In Russia, Indigenous feminist activists are building cross-border alliances to mobilize communities to end the war on Ukraine. When more than 50 women were detained at an anti-war protest, one partner raised funds and paid legal fees to secure their release.

These movements give me hope every day. And they prove we have the power to swing the pendulum back towards progress.

Our movements can inspire and catapult change in the blink of an eye. Watching young people defend their rights in Kenya can move a generation in Nepal. Activists defending abortion in Poland can inspire those in the United States. A queer celebration in Ukraine can spark hope in Kyrgyzstan. Feminist activists rallying to provide aid in Gaza can teach lessons in perseverance, mutual aid, and reciprocity to all of us around the world.

Solidarity trumps repression. Courage is contagious. And when movements connect across borders, they become impossible to silence.

We can't make it through this era of regression alone. We have to stand with each other, build bridges of solidarity, and show up for frontline activists with resources and support. Urgent Action Fund is a bridge for making that happen. After nearly three decades of supporting activists in the most challenging circumstances, we know how to move resources quickly, flexibly, and directly to those who need them most.

We were built for this moment. And so were you.

Join us ([link removed]) in supporting feminist movements who are defending democracy, human rights, and our collective future. The pendulum can swing back—but only if we push it together.

In community,

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Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism partners with frontline feminist movements to support women, trans, and non-binary activists striving to create a more just and equitable world. ** Donate now ([link removed])
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