John –

There’s no question that we are entering a new chapter in the movement for LGBTQ equality – one where the far-right political movement feels more emboldened than ever to roll back fundamental American rights and freedoms. In the first half of 2022 alone, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and all but invited challenges to LGBTQ rights, more than two dozen anti-LGBTQ bills became law, and extremists continued to weaponize faith to attack our community. 

All of this is happening despite growing public support for LGBTQ equality, especially here in the South, which is home to one third of all LGBTQ Americans. Here, local communities continue to pass nondiscrimination ordinances and polls track higher and higher support. We must now work harder than ever to mobilize our supporters to stand with us, speak out against the ceaseless attacks leveled by extremist politicians, and keep building a South - and country -  where everyone can thrive.

That’s why today we’re proud to announce a new strategy for this post-Dobbs world. The strategy framework, Meeting the Moment in the LGBTQ South, will harness CSE’s resources and power – including staff, funding, infrastructure, supporters, and communications program – to respond to new attacks of LGBTQ rights, continue to advance LGBTQ rights, help people protect their rights and access care, and ensure that LGBTQ Southerners feel connected, loved, and supported. Learn more and join us in Meeting the Moment here.

There are three prongs to Meeting the Moment in the LGBTQ South:

• 📣 Take Action: We’ll mobilize supporters to take local, state, and federal actions through rapid response organizing, lobbying, public education, election engagement, and litigation to identify and defend attacks on rights and secure new protections. This includes our Codify It, Congress campaign (urging Congressmembers to pass federal legislation to codify Supreme Court precedents on the freedom to marry, the right to consensual same-sex relationships, federal nondiscrimination protections, abortion access, and contraception access), Pride Vote ‘22 (registering new voters and ensure supporters are ready to vote in the 2022 midterm election), and a reinvigorated volunteer program. 

• 💖 Take Care: In the months ahead, CSE staff will host a series of Healing & Resilience community workshops and launch a $30,000 Southern Equality Fund grant round supporting frontline organizations serving LGBTQ youth. In August, we’ll launch a Back-to-School campaign supporting LGBTQ youth with care packages, messages of love and solidarity, and a robust new “Know Your Rights” guide for LGBTQ students.

• 📝 Take Steps to Prepare: We’ll also provide direct services, legal workshops, and digital resources to support LGBTQ Southerners in knowing their rights, protecting their rights, and accessing critical services. On Tuesday, July 26 we’ll host our first LGBTQ Family Law Workshop in Asheville, NC, and in August we’ll support a virtual Trans Youth Law Workshop for SC youth and families, as part of the SC United for Justice & Equality coalition. In September we’ll host Pop-Up Health & Resilience Clinics at Sylva Pride and Blue Ridge Pride. 

The truth is that even as we see unprecedented levels of support for LGBTQ equality from individuals and institutions in the South, we are also bracing for the region to become an epicenter of attacks on LGBTQ rights at the legislative and administrative levels. Meeting the Moment will help ensure that LGBTQ Southerners are ready to protect themselves and take action to push forward. 

Check out our Meeting the Moment hub here and get involved – we need all hands on deck right now. 

With you,
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara
She/Her
Executive Director
Campaign for Southern Equality