Friends –

The past year has been hard on all of us – but it’s been especially challenging for young people, whose education and social lives have been upended during a critical time in their development. And after such a tough year of isolation, transgender young people across the South this month are feeling more attacked than ever.

That’s in part because of a wave of anti-transgender legislation being forced through many state legislatures. This week, Mississippi’s Governor signed into law a bill that restricts transgender students from participating in school athletics. 

Our team at the Campaign for Southern Equality has been working hard to support trans youth and stop these bills across the South, and we’ve been especially engaged in South Carolina, where we’re working with a strong coalition of 30+ LGBTQ and allied organizations. We’re working to defeat a discriminatory athletics bill and a truly horrific bill filed just this week – that would criminalize medical professionals for providing trans-affirming care and require teachers and school counselors to “out” transgender kids to their parents.

We can only do this work with the support of our donors – and every donation makes a difference, whether it’s $20 or $2,000. Can you join us in the work to protect and support transgender young people across the South with your gift? Click here to donate.

As hard as it is to see these anti-transgender bills advancing, I know that we can push forward. In South Carolina, our coalition empowered dozens of people to testify against the attack on trans youth and youth sports. Those speaking out against the bill include State Superintendent Molly Spearman. 

And in North Carolina just this week, following years of advocacy, education, and pressure from our Supportive Schools program and others in NC, the state Department of Public Instruction announced a major victory. NC’s student information systems will now use students’ preferred names instead of their “legal” name, a big step toward protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of transgender students.

We’re pushing back and pushing forward – and we need your help to do it. If you’re able to make a donation to fight alongside our team at the Campaign for Southern Equality, please click here to give. 

Thank you,
Adam Polaski
Campaign for Southern Equality