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Dear John,
It’s the last day of Pride Month! This year, it’s clear that Pride is still a protest. Building progressive power is vital as we continue fighting the barrage of attacks against LGBTQIA+ equality and the freedom to make choices about our own bodies and futures— but the growing number of young progressives in our movement gives us hope.
This month, we’re highlighting three of TFN's Texas Rising Student Leaders to talk about what Pride means to them, and how in their roles, they fight for queer liberation while finding community and acceptance in a state where LGBTQIA+ rights are constantly threatened.
Beyond reading their stories, you can celebrate young leaders like Ric Galvan, Mireya Garcia, and José Pablo (JP) Rojas by supporting our efforts [[link removed]] to continue empowering young people just like them! Our signature youth training program, Camp Texas Rising, [[link removed]] is quickly approaching, and we’re so thrilled to welcome more young activists to our movement in just a few weeks. During camp, they’ll spend time deep-diving into issue advocacy and gain the expertise to mobilize and organize for the freedoms that matter to them, like LGBTQIA+ equality, reproductive justice, voting rights, public education and so much more.
Support Camp Texas Rising [[link removed]]
Now, meet Ric Galvan, Mireya Garcia, and José Pablo (JP) Rojas!
Ric Galvan, Former Campus Organizer & Current TFN staff member
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Read Ric’s entire profile here! [[link removed]]
“Pride started off as a protest and needs to continue to be one! Especially at this moment when we're seeing so much discrimination everywhere across the country, but especially in Texas. I think [Pride Month] serves as a reminder to continue fighting for the rights that we don't have—but to also celebrate, be proud of who we are, and how far we've come. Still, we have to stay in the fight and keep pushing because there's a lot at stake.”
Mireya Garcia, Rio Grande Valley Campus Organizer
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Read Mireya’s entire profile here! [[link removed]]
“In Texas Rising, our members and the whole team value intersectionality. I think LGBTQIA+ equality and liberation are much bigger than just queer rights— it encompasses a lot of things. So many times I see a GoFundMe for gender-affirming surgery, housing, or food. These are all vital to a queer person's survival. Everyone’s survival impacts all of us.”
José Pablo (JP) Rojas, Rio Grande Valley Deputy Field Organizer
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Read JP’s entire profile here! [[link removed]]
“If I were speaking to a younger version of myself, I’d say: ‘If only you knew what was soon about to come for you–it would give you a little peace and hope to dream with pride about who you are and what you can be.’ I was thinking about this a couple of days ago, reflecting on how when I was a kid, I admired people from advocacy groups and that sense of equality they were striving for. I was like, ‘Wow, I became the person that I always idolized.’ I thank orgs like Texas Rising for that because I know now that I can use my knowledge to fight for social justice, the Latinx community, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Texas Rising was such a jump start to what I can do in the future.”
With these young leaders at the helm of the progressive movement, we envision an equitable future where ALL Texans are represented in the halls of government, and every community is celebrated for the diversity they bring to our state.
We hope you’ll support Camp Texas Rising today [[link removed]] so that we can keep building our power and a path towards a radically inclusive future!
In the fight,
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Josh Gonzalez
Texas Rising Senior Digital Strategist
Donate to the Defend Democracy Fund [[link removed]]
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TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization that is building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.
Texas Freedom Network
P.O. Box 1624
Austin, TX 78767
United States
Phone: (512) 322-0545
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