Happy Pride month, dear readers! Wait… is “happy” the right word? This year, Pride feels different — the events of the past few months lay a heavy blanket of grief and uncertainty over our celebrations. Instead of embracing progress and the incredible possibilities of a more inclusive, more just society, our country has taken what seems like a million steps back. Legislative efforts are threatening LGBTQ+ people’s identities, livelihoods, health, and human rights, with many of these efforts targeting transgender people. Life-saving research and programs that support LGBTQ+ health have lost funding. Meanwhile, leaders in the highest positions of power have shared harmful rhetoric and disinformation about trans people, emboldening others to do the same.
Whether they’re focused on research, health care, bathrooms, sports, or drag queen story time, all these attacks have a similar effect: They stigmatize LGBTQ+ identities and create barriers meant to erase trans people from public life. But throughout history, LGBTQ+ people have refused to be erased. They’ve fought for their right to exist, to live full lives as their full selves. Long before health equity became a popular term, LGBTQ+ people (like these public health heroes!) advocated for a world where everyone has the resources they need to be healthy. And now, even as the language of health equity is being stripped away from many public resources, the project of working toward a more equitable and accessible world continues.
So today, we’re highlighting 3 organizations that are working to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ people, support their health and well-being, and offer educational resources to help all of us become more informed and effective allies.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
With a record number of bills targeting the rights of transgender people, the ACLU has been at the forefront of court cases and campaigns to fight discrimination and protect trans people’s rights — like the right to receive gender-affirming health care. Supporters can easily sign pledges and petitions or send form letters to elected representatives on a number of civil rights issues. And people who’ve experienced discrimination because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status can fill out an online form to request legal assistance.
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE)
A4TE was founded in 2024 when 2 national trans civil rights organizations, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, merged to “lead the next chapter of the transgender rights movement.” Along with taking on civil rights court cases on behalf of transgender and nonbinary people, A4TE maintains a resource library with information on a variety of topics affecting LGBTQ+ people — and resources to help allies get educated, like this Trans 101 guide.
Brave Space Alliance (BSA)
In addition to the many great organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights on a national level, there are a multitude of orgs working at the local level, supporting LGBTQ+ people in communities across the country. One example is the Brave Space Alliance (BSA). An LGBTQ+ focused center on Chicago’s South Side, BSA is rooted in 4 “pillars of dignity”: health, housing, food, and identity. BSA provides important health services like behavioral health counseling, HIV testing, and referrals to care. Community building through peer support groups is equally as important to BSA’s mission as the free food pantry and housing services to help LGBTQ+ people who are experiencing food insecurity or housing instability.
The bottom line: As we honor Pride month, LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. But organizations like the ACLU, Brave Space Alliance, and Advocates for Trans Equity are supporting LGBTQ+ people in the fight for human rights and health equity.
Copy/paste to share on social (and tag us!): In honor of #PrideMonth, CommunicateHealth highlights organizations that are working to help LGBTQ+ people thrive. Check it out: https://communicatehealth.com/wehearthealthliteracy/things-we-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f-organizations-that-fight-for-lgbtq-people/ #HealthCommunication #HealthLiteracy #HealthComm
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