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Friend, Fifty-two years ago today, an uprising began that would change the world. In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Police raids of gay and lesbian bars like the Stonewall Inn were common practice in the 1960s – but this time, the LGBTQ community fought back. It was a watershed moment for the gay liberation movement and the beginning of gay pride as we know it today. Since Stonewall, there have been many important cultural and legislative victories for LGBTQ people in our nation – but the work is far from over. This year, more than 125 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, many targeting children who identify as transgender by denying them access to lifesaving medical treatment or banning them from participating in sports or using the restroom. This number is up markedly from last year, when more than 40 such bills were introduced. In fact, 2021 has set a record for the number of anti-trans legislative efforts. LGBTQ Rights is one of our focus areas at the SPLC, and we’re working to ensure that LGBTQ people achieve full equality under the law. We recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of Ashley Diamond, a Black transgender woman in Georgia who for the second time is facing unconstitutional and abusive conditions in the Georgia Department of Corrections. We continue to monitor anti-LGBTQ hate groups in the U.S., and we documented a disturbing spike in their numbers in 2020. And we are still pushing to uphold LGBTQ rights in our Deep South focus states, where few states offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. So much has changed since Stonewall, but the enormous strides we’ve made must not overshadow the work that remains to be done. On today’s anniversary, we are especially grateful for supporters like you who allow us to keep the fight for LGBTQ equality and justice alive. In solidarity, Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
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