We are living in tumultuous times. In just ten days, decades of progress for LGBTQ+ people, people of color, people living with disabilities, and more are under attack.
It is clear from the past ten days the promises made to restrict our rights, villainize our core values and strip critical funding from our frontlines of support will be kept by any means necessary. In fact, two days ago the Trump Administration decided it knew more than the doctors, trans youth and their families and leading healthcare organizations on gender-affirming care for youth.
We knew these attacks were coming. We issued the warnings, we rang the bells. And now, as the attacks roll out and target our most vulnerable, I want to make one thing clear: We are still here. And we will continue to fight back.
But we are facing an executive order funding cut. Our essential work – in particular, our global programming – is being targeted for promoting “transgenderism” and “woke gender ideology.”
We must keep this work going. Please donate right now to stand against Trump and support the Defend Global Progress Fund. Every donation ensures we can keep these programs funded – and ensure Trump can’t defund equality.
Our team is collaborating with other organizations and exploring legal options. We will prevail. But solutions, especially legal ones, will take time. And we must continue working while the courts decide. And we must send a a clear message: we will not be erased, criminalized, or vilified for believing in bodily autonomy and equal rights for all of us, especially our transgender and nonbinary siblings.
President Trump and his radical, hateful, anti-equality agenda are targeting the most marginalized among us. And they do it not only because they can, but because they believe they have the support. They think they speak for America – that they speak for us.
But they are wrong. He’s not stopping, and we cannot either. Right now, they may have the power of the pen and the purse, but we know that the power of the people is stronger.
That’s exactly why we do the work we do – building equality at all levels of government is not just nice to have, it’s vital for our survival. Our elected officials are already speaking out, working to protect our most vulnerable, and standing up to bigotry, hatred, and violent rhetoric.
We cannot pause or falter. And with this spending freeze, we need you with us like never before. Donate to the Defend Global Progress Fund today and send a clear message: we will not let equality end with a Trump Presidency.
Onward,
Mayor Annise Parker