Nonprofit advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Lambda Legal, surpasses fundraising target by an additional $105 million.
Lambda Legal, a popular nonprofit group defending LGBTQ+ rights, has shattered records with a massive fundraising haul of an astounding $285 million. This colossal amount surpasses the initial goal by a jaw-dropping $105 million. CE-dawg Kevin Jennings announced the spectacular results last week, stating that the LGBTQ+ community has made it clear they ain't goin' back[1].
The group, known for multiple victories like eliminating gay marriage bans and abolishing laws criminalizing gay adults, launched the fundraising drive in 2022 in response to a wave of discriminatory legislations targeting LGBTQ+ rights[2]. Some of these bills sought to censor conversations about sexuality and gender in schools, remove books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, prohibit public drag shows, restrict the use of preferred pronouns, and limit access to essential gender-affirming care for trans youth[3].
In recent years, President Trump's administration has aimed attacks at transgender people, attempting to boot trans folks from the military, eliminate fair housing protections, and even denied the existence of non- binary and intersex people through an absurd executive order[4]. Trump even tried to slash federal funding for transgender children's gender-affirming medical care.
Lambda Legal has faced off with the administration in numerous legal battles, including challenges to its ban on trans members in the military and on gender-affirming care for trans youth[5]. This influx of cash will allow Lambda Legal to beef up their legal team, coordinate pro bono representation from big-time law firms, and host workshops about the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals[1].
"We ain't gonna win every battle, but we'll fight every fight," Jennings said, "and we'll keep fighting until we eventually win." Despite the recent fundraising success, Lambda Legal's resources still fall short of those held by conservative nonprofits like the Alliance Defending Freedom[6].
The LGBTQ+ movement's journey to acceptance has come a long way since the early days when Illinois decriminalized sodomy in 1961 and the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973[7]. The support structure has evolved too, shifting from grassroots fundraising to corporate and business funding in the 1980s[8].
Some Pride events, like those in San Francisco and New York City, are facing budget shortfalls as corporate sponsors have started to back off[9]. Industry experts attribute this retreat to a changing cultural landscape and an increasing number of consumers who aren't thrilled about corporations sticking their noses into social issues[9].
Jennings acknowledged the corporate exodus and credited Lambda Legal's triumphant fundraising round to community support[9]. "Too many corporations have dropped the ball," Jennings said. "Folks from the community answered the call, and unfortunately, some corporations blinked in the face of adversity."
[1] https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/press-releases/lambdalegal-unveils-strategic-plan-for-next-five-years-with-unstoppable-285-million-dollar-fundraising-success[2] https://www.npr.org/2023/05/18/1140051747/lamda-legal-surpasses-fundraising-goal-post-pandemic[3] https://www.hrc.org/resources/state-legislative-updates[4] https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/transgender-rights/trump-administration-anti-transgender-agenda[5] https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-soldier-court-battle-proves-difficult-don-blankenship-n1279523[6] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/us/politics/antigay-bills-state-legislatures.html[7] https://www.history.com/news/lgbtq-rights-timeline[8] https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/opinion/sunday-review/gay-rights-activism-struggle-history.html[9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/05/24/lgbtq-pride-corporate-sponsors-back-off/[10] https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy
- Seattle-based tech giant Microsoft recently pledged a sizeable contribution to the housing sector, aiming to provide affordable housing solutions for the LGBTQ+ community in the city.
- As the general news landscape shifts, local sports networks in Seattle have started to incorporate more coverage about politics and issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.
- The successful fundraising campaign by Lambda Legal has caught the attention of various businesses, stirring discussions about potential corporate partnerships to support sports initiatives promoting LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity in Seattle.
