Help Trans United Fund Elect More Trans People To Office

TransGriot Note: In the interests of journalistic integrity, I sit on the board of the Trans United Fund.


As you know, I do a lot of writing through my blog, TransGriot (which just won a GLAAD Media Award, making history as the first time a trans person has won for Best Blog!) But what you may not know is that I'm a Board Member and key leader in Trans United Fund, a trans-led organization working to build political power for trans and nonbinary people across the country.

One of the main ways we build this power is electing transformative trans leaders. We are decisive in electing trans leaders because when we do that, there are more trans people who see ourselves reflected in leadership, and more people of our communities who believe they can run. When they do run, they come to Trans United Fund as the go-to organization for help in their races, and we need the resources to help them win.

Will you stand up and help build political power that our communities need with me and Trans United Fund? Whether it's in your budget to give $15 or $150, every dollar makes a difference in the lives of trans people like me, and our ability to join the decision making tables where decisions about us are made. Nothing about us, without us!

In this environment, with a presidential administration which is actively hostile towards trans people, it is crucial that we elect trans folks to public office at all levels of government. It is critical to elect trans people to office not only to defend against the attacks of the opposition but to advance our interests, rights, and needs in decision making bodies at the local, state and national level.. As a trans-led, trans-run organization, run by a majority of trans people of color like myself, Trans United Fund has proven that we have the best interests of trans people at heart. We are actively working to build political power across the country by building a diverse coalition of leaders across different identities, experiences, and backgrounds.

And that's exactly the group we need leading this charge to make change right now.

Join us and our work and pitch in now: we can go so much farther together.

Can Y'all Stop Using Texas As A Political ATM?

Early voting has just started in the Lone Star State in advance of our March 6 primary election, and in Harris County and the other 15 largest counties in the state, first day early voting Democratic turnout is double the rate it was in 2014, while the Republican turnout numbers are slightly below 2014 numbers.

There is enthusiasm in the Texas Democratic Party ranks and among liberal progressive Texans for the first time in a while.   Many Republican held legislative seats that went unopposed in 2014 and 2016 have now drawn Democratic challengers.   There's a competitive Democratic primary in CD 7, currently held by Rep.John Culberson (R) that drew seven quality candidates.

In Harris County, (Houston) lost in the bad news of the Trump upset win was the fact we flipped the most populous county in the state blue, and are eagerly looking to continue the process in this cycle.

The significance of this news is that Harris County provides 25% of the vote total in a statewide race, so if we can get turnout up here, it helps Democrats across the state.

And Texas liberal progressive peeps, after observing what happened in Virginia and Alabama, are fired up and ready to demonstrate we can do the same in the Lone Star State and start flipping Texas blue or at least get it to purple status.

But what that is going to take to make a Blue Texas a reality is money. 

One of the things that has pissed Texas Democrats off for a long time is that Democratic candidates from the rest of the country come to Texas to fundraise and taking money out of our state to spend in other races around the country . 

The problem with that repetitive pattern of using Texas as a political ATM because you assume we can't win here is that it deprives Lone Star State Democratic candidates running for office the funds we need to aggressively take on and beat  entrenched Republican office holders.

Texas is also the linchpin of the Republican Party efforts to cling to power on a national level.   It's why the Texas GOP has spent millions to voter suppress and gerrymander this state so they keep control of it.   According to an AP analysis, in 2016 the Republicans picked up four additional US House seats in Texas they wouldn't have if not for the gerrymandering.

It's also no surprise that a federal judge has decaled the 2011 Texas federal and state legislative maps unconstitutional because they were gleefully drawn by the Texas GOP to suppress African American and Latinx political power 

They are even more desperate to cling to power here in Texas because they know as we do that since 2009, demographics have not been on their side.   There are more non-white Texans than white Texans, and they know that if they didn't suppress or gerrymander the vote, this state would be purple or already well on it's way to becoming the political mirror image of California.

If that happens, the Republicans will be hard pressed to win a presidential contest, much less keep control of the US House of Representatives because they would have to fight for Texas' 38 electoral votes instead of relying on adding the Lone Star State's EV's in their total.

With the 2020 census and reapportionment looming on the horizon that will determine how the political fights of the 2020's shake out, it is incumbent upon us liberal progressive Texans in 2018 and 2020 to do what we can to cut into those Republicans margins in the Texas House and Senate despite the gerrymandered maps and put ourselves in the best possible position for that 2021 redistricting fight. 

We also need to have liberal progressive Texans running for statewide and countywide offices, school boards and judicial benches.   It's a win win for us in Texas and for you nationally if Ted Cruz is no longer patrolling the US Senate and Beto O'Rourke is.

But the critical piece in that effort to flip Texas blue is for the national Democratic Party and other national PAC's to stop treating Texas as a political ATM, fundraising, and taking that money to fund races somewhere else.

We need money for our races, too.   Y'all could also send more money here as well to help us flip Texas in 2018 and 2020 as well.

We'll do the rest of the work necessary to make it happen. 

Trans United Fund Deserves Your Support

#GivingTuesday may have already passed, but you don't need a specific day to donate to one of the organizations who has taken on the mission of building trans political power and getting trans people elected to public office.   people

So how about giving some of those hard earned dollars to an organization that is building trans political power and doing so in a spectacular way like Trans United Fund?

They have a proven track record in terms of not only getting our people elected like Minneapolis councilmembers elect Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham, but provided the critical support that got Danica Roem through her contested Democratic primary and during her successful race to topple the self proclaimed 'Homophobe in Chief' Bob Marshall from his VA House of Delegates seat.

While Trans United Fund's focus is on trans candidates, they did provide the critical support to help three trans supportive school board candidates in Palatine, IL beat back a heavily funded right wing attempt to gain control of the D211 school board and win their races.

With the 2018 election cycle fast approaching,  Trans United Fund needs to replenish their funds so that they can be in a stronger position to help the trans candidates who request their endorsement.

Trans United Fund is seeking to raise a total of $10K  $5,000 for Trans United Fund and another $5000 for the Breakthrough Fund  PAC that helped power Andrea, Phillipe and Danica to their historic election wins.

Will you consider donating and helping Trans United Fund reach or exceed that goal?  $20, $10 and $5 donations add up.   If you can give more, that's fine, too.   But bear in mind trans fam and allies, that if we want to see more trans representation in our city councils, community courts, judicial benches, state legislatures or Congress, running a winning campaign takes money.

In 2018 we already have some trans persons who have declared they are running for public office. If they ask for the Trans United Fund endorsement, TUF wants to have the resources available o help them win.

So please consider making an investment in TransUnited Fund, since November 2018 will be here sooner than we realize. 

Can You Donate and Help Trans Candidates Make History?

It's the first day of November, and we are six day away from making history with a group of stellar trans candidates who are running for office in Minneapolis  (Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham) New York state (Chrissie Browde) and Virginia (Danica Roem)

Our right wing opposition is getting a last minute infusion of cash to oppose these candidates that we must counter, and that's why Trans United Fund needs your help and your cash for these critical home stretch days. 

It's especially critical in Danica's Virginia House of Delegates race since she is taking on the darling of the right wing movement in longtime anti-TBLGQ foe Delegate Bob Marshall.

Phillipe also has a tough Ward 4 Minneapolis City Council race and will also need some help in the final push to the November 7 finish line 

Each one of these breakthrough candidates has already made history in their various locales.  We need to have trans people get elected to office to help push good public policy and be in position to kill bad policy at the legislative level.

These candidates have stepped up to do that.  We just need to do what it takes on our end to help them win and BE in office to help formulate public policy for their constituents and our community.

So could you take a few moments to contribute to the Breakthrough Fund today?  No amount is too small, and could make all the difference in these races.

Please Consider Donations To Trans Led Orgs On Give OUT Day

Give OUT Day is a 24 hour effort focused on fundraising for LGBT non profit organizations.

One of the things I hope will happen today is that trans led organizations get some of that fiscal love today because our organizations have historically not gotten the kind of consistent funding love that allowed LG orgs to grow and get to the point where they are not fundraising just to keep the lights on, but to build permanent capacity.

Frankly, it's one of the things our trans rights movement needs to have happen, and our underserved trans community could definitely use and deeply appreciates the cash infusion to help fund the work we do.

The Trans United Fund is one of those organizations that could use your help.   There's also a need to donate to organizations that focus on the Black LGBT community like the National Black Justice Coalition  and the Dallas based Black Trans Advocacy  that hosts the annual BTAC conference along with the Trans Persons of Color Coalition  (TPOCC)

They would love to clock some of those Give OUT Day dollars you wish to give today to help build their capacity and funding streams for their programs.

There's also a critical need for funding to go to LGBT human rights groups in the Southern US and trans groups based in the region now that our right wing opponents are focusing their efforts on attacking trans people.   Republican led state legislatures across this region and politicians are gleefully peddling anti-trans hatred for their nefarious political gain, and Southern based LGBT orgs would love for some of those donations to come their way.

So while the clock is ticking on this Give OUT Day, how about showing some love to national trans led organizations like the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit (TTNS), the Organizacion Latina Trans en Texas (OLTT) , Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)  Gender Infinity and others who will definitely not only appreciate your contributions but use them wisely.

So if you can give $5, $10, $20 or whatever amount you can spare, consider doing it with a trans led organization.

Two NYC Groups Fundraising To Buy ATLAH Hate Church

Couldn't happen to a nicer christobigot.   I would love to see the karmic justice of someone buying that hate church and turning it into an LGBT center.-TransGriot, January 29, 2016

The news broke last week that NYC hate pastor James David Manning's ATLAH World Missionary Church is going to be sold at auction February 24 to satisfy Manning's unpaid debts.  I floated the comment out there that I hoped that it could be turned into an LGBT center or hoped that an LGBT friendly church would buy the property located at W.123rd St and Malcolm X Blvd .

And lo and behold, guess some peeps were paying attention.  Two groups have emerged to buy the Harlem based church in the Ali Forney Center and the Rivers of Living Water Ministries.  

The Ali Forney Center is dedicated to serving LGBT homeless youth, and ROLW Ministries serves as a radically inclusive faith home for many trans. bisexual, and SGL Christians in the New York area.  Both are running fundraising campaigns in order to attempt to raise the $1.2 million that will be needed to buy the property.

The Ali Forney Center has raised $75K of their $200,000 target in 48 hours to finance their bid for the ATLAH property, while the Rivers of Living Water Ministries has raised as of this writing $19,761 of their $1.2 million in their GoFundMe campaign to buy the Harlem church as well.

Whichever group is successful, the bottom line for me is I hope that a building desecrated by a christobigot purveyor of hate gets a new lease on life as either a church or a community center dedicated to helping the New York LGBT community that Manning once attacked from its pulpit.  

'Happy Birthday Marsha!' Post Production Fundraising Campaign

The trailer for Happy Birthday, Marsha has been released.

It's a short film written and produced by Reina Gossett and Sasha Wortzel that tells the story of Marsha P. Johnson shortly before the 1969 Stonewall Riots and stars Mya Taylor in the title role.



The production team for this film is seeking to raise $30,000 so they can finish post production of this movie and get it on the silver screen where it deserves to be.

But I'll let them speak for themselves:

Last summer, we raised funds to shoot the film via Kickstarter (thanks to many of you) plus grants from Trans Justice Funding Project, Gil Foundation, Astraea Global Arts Fund, and many many individual donations. Since then the scope of the film has changed dramatically. Rather than making a traditional documentary, we shot a narrative, scripted film starring Oscar hopeful Mya Taylor as Marsha P. Johnson.

NOW we are raising the finishing funds needed to complete our film, so we can begin screening it for you! Raising this money will keep us on track to showing this film in early 2016! The funds raised will go directly towards:

• Editing - paying our amazing editor who cut the picture

• Motion Graphics and Titles - getting all our text and graphics designed

• Score- paying for the film's incredible original music 

• Sound design - creating the feel of 1969 NYC through sounds

• Sound Mix - getting the sound ready for theatres and your home speakers

• Color Correction - capturing the gorgeous colors and textures of 1969

• Festival submissions - paying submission fees ($20-$80) which add up fast

The world needs to see it, and I hope you'll consider contributing whatever you can so that the production team hits their fundraising goal.   Of course, if they exceed it, that's all good, too.

Here's the link to the Indiegogo campaign for Happy Birthday Marsha!.

Girl Scouts Return Transphobe`s Donation, Get Paid

`If a girl is recognized by her family, school and community as a girl and lives culturally as a girl, Girl Scouts is an organization that can serve her in a setting that is both emotionally and physically safe.`
-Girl Scouts statement welcoming transgender girls

Over the last few years, the Girl Scouts of America have been standup allies for the trans community, and opened their doors so that trans girls can participate.

That support of trans feminine girls created a problem for the Western Washington Girl Scout council and its CEO Megan Ferland recently.

They received a $100K donation during their fundraising drive which was a quarter of their fundraising goal.  However, it came with a transphobic string attached.

In a letter she received five weeks later, the donor requested that none of the donated money be used to assist transgender girls, and if they couldn't guarantee that, the donor wanted their money returned.

Ferland knew because the parents chose to share that information, there are trans girls participating in some Western Washington area troops.  Even though that monetary gift would have allowed 200 fiscally challenged girls to attend summer camp, Ferland quickly returned the money and on June 29 launched a `Girl Scouts is #ForEVERYGirl  Indiegogo campaign with a YouTube video to accompany it in order to replace the funds they lost.

They recouped the money they lost in 24 hours and tripled it, raising $300K, and benefit all girls in the Western Washington area that will need some financial assistance in order to attend camp.

People also supported the campaign on social media, using the #ForEVERYGirl hashtag.

My congratulations to the Western Washington Girl Scouts, who demonstrated principled leadership,  returned a transphobic donation and were rewarded for it.

I sure would like to know who that transphobe is so they can receive the proper level of scorn they deserve..

But I;m definitely tripling my Girl Scout cookie order next year.

Dee Dee's Gofundme Housing Campaign

Dee Dee Watters has been one of our community's hardworking and selfless activists. 

She has done Christmas toy drives, condom dispensing at local TBLG clubs, been the lead organizer of our Houston Black TDOR event, organized  trans themed health and wellness fair last year and even been there for folks when they have needed a ride somewhere, myself included.

Many times she has pulled money out of her own purse to make those events happen.

She was also one of the people standing by my side as we went to Houston City Hall starting with the first city council meeting in January 2014 to battle for the ultimately successful passage of HERO.

On Sunday, after coming back from an empowering BTAC 2015 conference in Dallas, she was told to vacate the home where she was staying a mere 15 minutes after completing the 4 hour drive down I-45 form the conference hotel.

Dee Dee has helped countless people, now it's time for us to stand up and help her raise the money so she can get a place of her own.     This is the link to the Gofundme campaign that has been set up to help her get the money she needs to get her own place. 

Any amount that gets us to the targeted amount is helpful and deeply appreciated.

One of the most basic needs for any human being is to have a place to call their own.  So please help one of our community sheroes in making that happen.

NBJC Emancipation Campaign

You know that I have been down with the mission of the National Black Justice Coalition throughout the life of this blog and have much love for the organization.. 

I have met and talked with Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks on different occasions, met with many of the NBJC board members past and present, had the pleasure of attending, chronicling   and taking part in the 2011 and 2012 OUT on the Hill events and was honored to be a participant in their all day NBJC Black Institute at this year's Creating Change Conference in my hometown. 

And I'm hoping I can make it back to DC for this year's 5th annual edition of OUT on the Hill September 24-27

Now that NBJC is moving into its second decade of service to our community since its 2003 founding, it is seeking to become more self sufficient and rely more on the people they serve to fund it instead of foundations.

The NBJC Emancipation Campaign is seeking to raise $500,000 in order to do precisely that.

While they will continue to seek out grants, NBJC believes that in order to truly own our power and emancipate ourselves, the organization needs to be funded predominately by the African-American LGBT people and allies it serves, with the grants acting as supplements to the money they raise from the community and supporters.. 

NBJC in the last ten plus years has been on Capitol Hill and in movement leadership circles serving our Black LGBTQ/SGL community. 

They are unapologetically pointing out because of the way the forces of bias based on race, sexual orientation, and gender identity intersect in our community, it makes Black LGBTQ/SGL people and their families one of the most marginalized groups in America.

NBJC has been grooming our emerging LGBT leaders, pushing economic empowerment issues and laser focused on issues from our perspective such as HIV/AIDS, employment non-discrimination, safe and inclusive schools, transgender equality, Don't Ask Don't Tell, HBCU's and marriage equality

And NBJC has not hesitated to call out injustice aimed at our Black TBLGQ/SGL community

As far as the transgender equality portion of their mission goes, NBJC has been one of the few inside the beltway organizations to capitalize the 'T and seek our input on the issues and problems that plague our community.

The NBJC is worth the investment, and I hope you believe in their work as much as I do to invest in it as I will happily do once again because I want and would like for this Emancipation Campaign to be successful. 

What's Up With Tona's Carnegie Hall Gofundme Campaign?

Tona Brown's upcoming historic Carnegie Hall concert in New York is one that promises to be one interesting and magical night three weeks from now at the Weill Recital Hall.

Because some promised corporate and organizational funding has yet to materialize and she couldn't waste any more time waiting for it to happen, 29 days ago Tona started a Gofundme crowdfunding campaign seeking to raise the additional $25,000 she would need to pay the balance of the money the Carnegie Hall folks requested and still put on a first class event.

I was stunned to see that as of this writing, she's only raised $325 dollars. 

This is outrageous to me when I see trans people with less melanin in their skin crowdfund that kind of cash for an SRS, top surgery or whatever other purpose no questions asked in less than a week, but you can't get off $5 or $10 dollars for a Black transwoman trying to have an event the entire trans community can be proud of. 

I'll bet if Tona's skin tone had less melanin in it she would have hit that fundraising target and then some a long ago and it would be all over the media about this 'groundbreaking concert for the transgender community'

So what's up people?  It's not like you don't know what Tona is raising the money for because she been upfront and transparent about that.  So that leads me to ask the things that make you go hmm questions such as are other factors at work here that are keeping her from hitting the targeted goal?   

Is Tona Brown's Carnegie Hall concert not worthy of supporting and hitting her fundraising goal?

Because that's what you're saying to me and the trans communities of color at large when she's had this campaign up for 29 days now for a positive event and it has only raised as of this writing $325 dollars.

We have got to do better than this.    And note to the orgs that promised her funding and support and left our trans sister hanging, follow through with your promised commitments

The show is entitled 'From Stonewall to Carnegie Hall' and will feature works of African-American composers.  It will also discuss the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion and the positive effects the transgender community have had on the TBLG human rights movement.

I not only want to see the Weill Recital Hall full on the June 25 night she does the 'From Stonewall To Carnegie Hall' concert, I want her to have the funds she needs to make sure it is a memorable night for all involved and cover any unforseen expenses.

So help her out with a donation and share this post to spread the word about this Gofundme campaign 

 

Help Tona Get To Carnegie Hall

There's an old joke that asks the question how do you get to New York's Carnegie Hall?

Practice, practice, practice.

Well, our sis Tona Brown has more than put in the practice time and paid her dues to perform there.

Now the founder of the Aida Strings needs an assist from the community to raise the funds for the deposit to make that Carnegie Hall performance she's dreamed about happen.   

Carnegie Hall is one of the most prestigious venues for classical and popular music artists in the United States.  This summer the historic venue is sponsoring their first ever LGBT Pride music event and invited her to participate.   Tona needs to raise $3,500 to make her part of it happen.

So here's the link to the indiegogo campaign so you can do your part to support a #girllikeus artist and make what promises to be amazing night of musical entertainment happen.   Even $1 will help get her closer to her goal, so please consider doing so.  

I'd love to see her standing on the stage of this historic concert venue that opened over a century ago in 1891 this summer performing, making history once again and representing our community well while doing so. 

Help Jaila's EP Become A Reality

You may remember me talking about Jaila Simms, who was on the reality TV show Making Diddy's Band back in 2009.

So what's Jaila been up to since then? 

Well, Jaila has put together a debut EP entitled 'Best of Both Worlds' with a tentative release date of April 8, but is $600 short so the post production of it can happen.   

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She has a Gofundme campaign that is running through March 17 that is trying to raise that post production money for the EP, so let's help a #girllikeus out. 

Every dollar counts, and even if you can only spare a dollar, that's one dollar closer to her goal..  600 people x $1= $600. 300 people x $2 =  $600.  120 people x $5= 600   60 people x $10 = $600

Help Jaila's EP become a reality.
 

Help Some Latina Trans Sisters Get To Creating Change 2014

As those of us on the Houston Host Committee already are keenly aware of, Creating Change 2014 will start January 29.  People will be coming from all over Texas, the country and the world to get to the Hilton Americas Hotel to enjoy our Houston hospitality and Creating Change Texas style. 

These ladies of the Trans Latin@ Coalition want to join the 4000 people we are anticipating will be there for Creating Change, but need a little help to get there.   Yours truly and my peeps on the Host Committee want to meet them.

We are trying to support 9 women from the national TransLatin@ Coalition to get to the Latino Institute at Creating Change. We have lodging for 9 women and 4 flights donated. Please make a donation to support these amazing women from local communities across the country who advocate for transgender Latin@ immigrants in the US. Donations will be matched by a donor up to $1,000 -

http://www.unionfuerza.org/home

We appreciate your support for our sisters attend this important national LGBT Latin@ day-long training.

Hope to see you in a few weeks, ladies. 

MAJOR! Documentary Kickstarter Campaign In Final Days

I talked about the Kickstarter campaign that is happening to fund the documentary MAJOR! by filmmakers Annalise Ophelian and StormMiguel Florez.   With just four days left they have at the time of this writing raised $19,824 toward their goal of $25,000 

Every little bit helps toward getting this film made.  You can donate, $1, $5, $10, $20 or more.  There are perks being offered at certain donation levels like an advance autographed copy of Janet Mock's upcoming book Redefining Realness  (of which there are only 3 of those left) if you donate $125.

It would be nice if Annalise and StormMiguel hit their goal because as I said in the September 21 post and will repeat here, this a film that not only needs to be made but once it's completed seen for ours and future generations.     

They are agonizingly close to hitting their fundraising target.  Your donation could be the one that gets them closer to meeting their goal or puts them over the top for it, so please consider doing so before the 9 PM EDT October 8 deadline.. 

Truth.Be.Told. Take Two IndieGoGo Campaign In Homestretch

Learned recently about an IndieGoGo campaign which is focused on funding a pilot for a documentary TV series called Truth. Be.Told. that focuses on Black :GBTQIA-SGL-TS visionaries to tell their stories.

Over 50 people have committed to tell their stories in Seasons 1 and 2 including Staceyann Chin (Jamaican-born, Tony Award-winning playwright); Emil Wilbekin (Editor at Large for Essence magazine), Patrik-Ian Polk (Creator of Logo TV's "Noah's Arc" series); Mia McKenzie (Creator of the Black Girl Dangerous blog) Linda Villarosa (a former Editor for the New York Times); Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs (Co-Creator of the Mobile Homecoming Project); Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler (Filmmaker/Transgender Rights Activist); and Justin Robinson (Grammy Award-winning musician, formerly of the Carolina Chocolate Drops).

The Truth. Be.Told. Executive Producers are Carol Ann Shine (who produced Noah's Arc for Logo TV, plus all of Patrik-Ian Polk's films), and Jennifer MacArthur,  Public Media Engagement Consultant for Independent Television Service (ITVS) and former Director of Television + Digital Media Engagement at the National Center for Media Engagement. Katina Parker is the Creator/Director for Truth. Be. Told.

From the IndieGoGo page, here's the explanation of the basic premise of the proposed documentary series.

The basic premise of Truth. Be. Told.: is in order to become all of whom we were sent to be, as Queer Black people, we have been pushed to question everything about our multiple layers of identity - race, gender, sexuality, class, vocation - and then reconcile who we know ourselves to be with the identities our families and society-at-large have constructed for us. Some of us face rejection from our parents, children, spouses, and other family; some of us experience job loss, religious persecution, personal attacks and violence; some of us are more afraid of who we might become than our loved ones who have been waiting for us to speak our own truth. By virtue of being Queer, we do this work in spite of the risks, in order to live more fully.

Truth. Be. Told. is a success that we build together. If you fund it, I will make it. And what I make will do us proud. Together, we will create the most comprehensive exploration of Queer Black identity, to date.  

To make that season happen, they are trying to raise $4000 to produce a pilot episode for Truth. Be. Told  to augment the $4000 already raised from their first campaign.  The deadline for this campaign is June 17 at 11:59 PM PDT

So if you can, consider dropping $5, $10 or if you're feeling generous more to help reach this fundraising goal and bring this much needed documentary series to life. 

It's Give Out Day-Send Some Cash To Your Fave Black LGBT Org

Today is Give Out Day, which is basically a one day blitz in which people in the LGBT community and our allies are urged to support your favorite local organizations or national ones doing grassroots work. 

I'm not just going to urge you to do so, I'm going to lead by example.  I received $51 from Mom for my birthday last Saturday, so I'm donating $10 of it to the National Black Justice Coalition.   I'm also going to be donating another $10 to Black Transmen, Inc.

Both these organizations do wonderful work in the community, but they can't live on grants alone.  They have to have people donate money to them from time to time to help fund their various programs and projects.  And as President Obama's last two presidential campaigns have shown, thousands and tens of thousands of people donating $5, $10, $20 or more can add up to a substantial sum quickly. 

The proceeds that NBJC raises today will go toward their Emerging Leaders program    They'll be the people we'll pass the torch to when it's time to keep the momentum of our human rights push moving in a forward direction.

If you value organizations like NBJC and think the work they do in terms of being the voice for Black LGBT America is valuable, then drop them some money 

Join The NBJC On Give OUT Day!

One of the things I talked about in my BTMI keynote speech was that organizations such as BTMI/BTWI, TPOCC and the NBJC not only need you show up at their events like OUT on the Hill (and I've cleared my schedule for that September 18-22 weekend) but they also need for you to break them off some cash every now and then.

It costs money to keep the lights on, pay salaries and get people to DC for congressional hearings, et cetera.  Grants alone aren't enough.  If you value these organizations like NBJC and think the work they do in terms of being the voice for Black LGBT America is valuable, then drop them some money in their Early Bird Campaign in advance of Give OUT Day.  . 

But I'll let NBJC tell you what they've been up to in their 10th Anniversary year, especially with this Emerging Leaders Campaign.      







The National Black Justice Coalition is also one of the many organizations joining the Give OUT Day on May 9.  It is a nationwide effort to mobilize individuals to give to LGBT nonprofit orgs on a single day of the year. 

So for those of you who would like to ensure that your donation dollars go to local organizations that do the grassroots work, here's your opportunity to give to an LGBT non-profit org that will plow your dollars back into the work they do.

Proceeds from NBJC's Give OUT Day campaign will go towards their Black LGBT Emerging Leaders Initiative. This program is purposed with identifying young, rising stars (ages 18-30) in the Black LGBT movement as well as providing a platform and a space for standout leaders to use their voice, build networks, and take action in their communities.

So please consider donating some of your cash to NBJC on Give OUT Day or if it's burning a hole in your pocket, do so right now.