How MoveOn Is Working to Support the LGBTQ+ Community
The LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender folks, is under attack from Republicans. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have gone before state legislatures since the start of this year alone, and anti-trans bills have doubled since 2022.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed several anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which Joe Saunders, senior political director of Equality Florida, called “an all-out attack on freedom.” One bill prohibits transgender children from receiving gender-affirming care, while another restricts teachers, faculty, and students from using the pronouns of their choice in public schools. Other bills ban children from attending drag shows and prohibit trans people from using restrooms, changing rooms, and other public facilities that match their gender identity.
Meanwhile, Target caved to a concerted campaign by anti-LGBTQ+ bigots and pulled merchandise honoring Pride month after facing public backlash from the right, joining Bud Light, the Dodgers, and Disney as yet another brand drawn into the center of the conservative plan to target LGBTQ+ people.
In April, transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr was silenced by her Republican colleagues, who wouldn’t allow her to speak on the Montana House’s floor unless she apologized for saying lawmakers would have “blood on their hands” if they passed a law banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth in the state. Despite the dissent of hundreds of protesters, Zephyr was voted off the House floor for violating its rules of decorum.
And these are just a few of the latest challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in their fight for equality in America.
Now is the time to take action in the LGBTQ+ fight for equality.
All these examples point to Republican efforts to attack, exclude, and eradicate queer people, particularly trans folks, from living and coexisting peacefully. But while this Pride month feels hard as we strive to counter these efforts rooted in hate, we refuse to be silenced. They’ve tried over and over, and they have failed, over and over.
The movement for liberation and gay rights continues to grow–despite the right’s hatred–across the country and globally. We see their tactics. And we’re fighting back.
What has MoveOn done in the last year to support the LGBTQ+ community?
- We launched our official Generation Rainbow campaign. One obstacle confronting the LGBTQ+ community is a lack of education about how to protect and support LGBTQ+ folks across the nation.
That’s why we created Generation Rainbow, a hub of resources and action items geared toward protecting LGBTQ+ youth. On the site you will find resources like the Trevor Project, SnapCo, and Advocates of Youth–resources that will foster a more in-depth understanding of the LGBTQ+ community that goes beyond visibility.
- We sent out the ACLU petition for trans youth around H.R.734—a federal bill attempting to ban youth from school sports just because they’re transgender—which has now surpassed 40,000 signatures.
- Thousands of MoveOn members called Target to demand that they stop caving to bigots, homophobes, and transphobes and reinstate their LGBTQ+ Pride merch.
- MoveOn members wrote and posted more than 1,000 comments to support telehealth care options, advocating to protect gender-affirming care for trans folks and MoveOn members in rural areas.
- We uplifted MoveOn members’ voices (from petition comments) on social media for the Trans Day of Visibility.
Join us in the fight to protect and support LGBTQ+ rights:
It’s more important now than ever before that we come together—whether you’re in the LGBTQ+ community or an ally—to fight back and show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Here are a few ways you can do that:
- Sign the petition telling Target to stop caving to bigots, homophobes, and transphobes and reinstate their LGBTQ+ merch now.
- Wear MoveOn Pride merch proudly. Even though Target chose to cave to conservative attempts to silence the LGBTQ+ community, we refuse to back down.
That’s why we’re giving you a different option for snagging your 2023 Pride gear, and we’re thrilled to release our 2023 Pride collection! Unlike when you buy from a large corporation, your purchase will support LGBTQ+ advocacy and the work we do year-round to fight for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities—and to elect politicians who will work to protect our rights. You can purchase MoveOn Pride merch here and proudly wear it throughout Pride month and all year long!
- Find a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group to donate your time or resources to.
This Pride month and beyond, let’s work toward a world where our LGBTQ+ community members can thrive. We can practice our allyship and take steps to build the future we want, together.
The post How MoveOn Is Working to Support the LGBTQ+ Community appeared first on MoveOn: People-Powered Progress.