In a time when the existence of the LGBTQIA+ community is unjustly contested and their rights face unprecedented challenges, it is crucial for us to rally together and show unwavering support. Pride serves as a beacon of hope, a space to celebrate queer joy, and uplift the queer community. Now, more than ever, we must amplify our voices, raise awareness, and actively support LGBTQIA+ organizations that are working tirelessly to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity.
In honor of Pride month we are donating to five remarkable local and national organizations dedicated to uplifting, protecting, and serving the LGBTQIA+ community. Join us as we shed light on their impactful work, how they are supporting the community, and how you can contribute to their mission.
The Human Rights Campaign: The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is one of the leading LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations. Through its efforts, The HRC has been instrumental in fighting for equal rights, inclusive policies, and legal protections for the community. Based in Washington, D.C., the organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBTQ individuals to ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens within our movement, across The United States and around the world.
To donate and support their work, please visit www.hrc.org.
The Trevor Project: Dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth, The Trevor Project provides life-saving support through a 24/7 helpline, online chat, and text service.
In August 1998, James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone, the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film, “Trevor,” founded The Trevor Project. Their film, a story about an LGBTQ teen who attempts suicide, was set to begin airing nationally on HBO, and the filmmakers wanted to include a number to a suicide lifeline for young people that might feel like the character “Trevor.” Finding no such number existed, the filmmakers opened the Trevor Lifeline. Since that time, The Trevor Project has risen to national prominence in the realm of suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth, fielding hundreds of thousands of calls from young people in crisis. In addition to operating the only national crisis lifeline for LGBTQ young people, the organization is the first to offer suicide prevention services nationally to youth in digital spaces, including counseling via instant message through TrevorChat, and the largest online social network specifically for young LGBTQ people, TrevorSpace.
To make a donation and help support their vital services, please visit thetrevorproject.org.
Youthphoria is a Philadelphia-based organization focused on empowering trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive youth through gender affirming photography. Photo sessions can bring about a lot of anxiety for anyone, especially folks who are trans and may be experiencing gender dysphoria. Participants are validated and offered things like a binder, shapewear, clothing, and accessories, which they get to keep after their session. They are also offered pieces and accessories tailored to their needs for everyday use in their growing wardrobe.
To contribute to their mission and make a difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth, please visit youthphoria.org.
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive. Trans Lifeline was founded in 2014 as a peer-support crisis hotline. The Hotline was, and still is, the only service in the country in which all operators are transgender. Because of the particularly vulnerable relationship transgender people have with police, it is also the only service in the country with a policy against non-consensual active rescue.
To support their efforts in providing immediate assistance and resources, please visit translifeline.org.
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute: Named in honor of the iconic LGBTQIA+ rights activist, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute focuses on advocacy, organizing, and community support. MPJI protects and defends the human rights of black transgender people. MPJI was founded both as a response to the murders of black trans women and women of color and how that is connected to their exclusion from social justice issues, namely racial, gender, and reproductive justice, as well as gun violence.
To donate and join their mission of protecting and defending the rights of Black transgender individuals, please visit marshap.org.
Pride is not only a time for celebration but also a time to channel our collective energy into supporting and uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community. By rallying behind organizations like The Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, Youthphoria, Trans Lifeline, and The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, we can make a tangible impact on the lives of individuals within the community. Together, let us stand united, use our voices, and contribute to the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Visit the links above to donate and help these organizations continue their vital work.
As we reflect on more than 50 years since the inaugural Pride event outside the iconic Stonewall Inn, we witness the continuous evolution of Pride while upholding its timeless objective: to joyously and unrelentingly celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
Love Always,
Angela Monaco Jewelry