Subprograms
Leave Queer Kids Alone
More than 400 bills have been introduced across the country attacking trans youth. These bills range from threatening to criminalize health care to banning trans youth from school activities. This rightwing onslaught is desperate and evil and destined to fail – but it’s up to us to make sure that happens. That means acting now to protect vulnerable people and that also means bringing as many people as we can into this fight – to build power and show these goons that they’re not just wrong and cruel – they’re losers too. Learn more about how you can fight back today.
What Can I Do?
Donate Chip in for trans freedom
-
Donate
Non-Profit
Donate here to support non-profit organizations providing legal support and organizational resources for the trans community. If you want to make a tax-deductible contribution or have an employee matching program through your company, this is a great option. -
Donate
Political Impact
501(c)(3) nonprofits do important work, but they can only engage in nonpartisan advocacy. But we want to take the fight right to the rightwing goons who are attacking trans rights, so your contribution here will support organizations that are allowed to engage in some partisan activity in the states where rightwing politicians are targeting trans people most aggressively.
-
Why are Republicans so focused on trans people, especially kids?
Great question. The right evidently has decided that they can use trans issues as a so-called “wedge issue.” The idea of a wedge issue is that it unifies your side and divides the other side, enabling you to fire up your base and attract persuadable voters. They seem to think that they can spark fear of change and distract from their incredibly unpopular economic agenda by focusing on things like gender-affirming care, trans youth playing sports, or using the bathrooms that match their gender identity. The thing is…these attacks on kids (and their families) aren’t actually popular.
-
Didn’t you do this last year? I thought F*ck Bans was about abortion.
We thought it was too when we launched F*ck Bans in 2022. Turns out there are a bunch of bans, and they all suck. But these fights are related—the same states are criminalizing reproductive care and trans care. Ultimately, these are attacks on bodily autonomy and freedom, and we don’t leave anyone behind.
-
These laws are mostly happening in red states where Republicans are in control. Can we actually do anything about it?
It’s not easy. But here are a few ways we can affect change, in the short, medium, and long term.
-
What can we do right now?
In the short term, we can call and write to our representatives, show up to testify, and let progressives in those states know we have their backs. We can also support trans youth right now, through mental health resources, spaces for connections with other young queer people, and other resources. Scroll down for more on that.
-
What’s the plan for stopping these creeps for good?
In the medium term, we can look ahead to 2024, when we’ll have the opportunity to replace some of the anti-trans legislators and defeat Republicans in statewide office and nationally who support the anti-trans agenda. Then, over the long term, we can fight for national legislation to protect queer and trans people and organize to build power in red and purple states. Join the VSA Community at the link below to be part of that work.
Learn More What kind of bans are we talking about here?
Source: ACLU
-
Health Care
These types of bills aim to ban affirming care for trans youth, create criminal penalties for providing this care, block funding to medical centers that offer gender-affirming care, or block insurance coverage of health care for transgender people.
-
Schools
These types of bills would ban trans students from participating in school activities like sports, force teachers to out students, prevent teachers from using a student’s preferred pronouns, or censor in-school discussions of LGBTQ people and issues.
-
Public Accommodation
These bills would ban trans and gender nonconforming people from using facilities like public bathrooms and locker rooms.
-
Drag
These bans are aimed at how and when LGBTQ people can express themselves, especially in performances like drag shows, and conflate drag and gender nonconformity.
Learn More Resources
-
American Trans Resource Hub
By trans people. For trans people. They offer everything from scholarships to free binders to peer support. -
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides 24/7 information and support to queer youth. Talk to a counselor, explore resources, or get connected with other LGBTQ+ Youth. -
Trans Journalist Association
The Trans Journalist Association exists not only to support trans journalists and build safe workspaces, but also to provide guidance to newsrooms on how to cover trans issues, including the spate of anti-trans laws. -
Transgender Law Center
The Transgender Law Center is the largest trans-led, trans-specific organization in the United States. It collects resources and publications to guide trans people through common legal challenges and questions. -
Trans Lifeline
Trans lifeline provides direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. They offer a peer-support phone service for trans people, as well as micro-grants to help cover the cost of changing government IDs. They do not involve police or emergency services without explicit consent. -
Gender Spectrum
Gender Spectrum provides education and support groups for trans youth and their families, as well as training for educators and medical and mental health professionals.
Fight Back Fight Back at the Ballot Box
-
Kentucky Spotlight
The Kentucky legislature has introduced or advanced almost a dozen anti-LGBTQ bills in 2023. In March, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a Republican-led bill that would prohibit transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care, such as surgical procedures or the use of certain hormones. Unfortunately, the Republican-majority state legislature was able to override Beshear, something lawmakers also did last year after he vetoed an anti-trans sports ban. The ACLU is now suing to overturn major provisions of the bill. Beshear is up for reelection in November against MAGA candidate Daniel Cameron who has vowed to defend the ban against the ACLU’s lawsuit.
-
Virginia Spotlight
This year, the Virginia General Assembly introduced the most anti-trans bills in its history, entirely from Republican legislators, and so far in 2023, the Democratic majority has defeated 12 anti-LGBTQ bills. Through executive action, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin reversed existing working policies and singled out a small population of vulnerable students for discrimination. If Virginia Republicans win a legislative majority this November, those bills could make their way to Gov. Youngkin’s desk and roll back years of progress in Virginia.
-
2024 Spotlight
Republicans at every level of government are attacking trans kids. Beyond the hateful laws passed by state legislatures, many of which are the result of Republican supermajorities, conservatives are leaning hard on hateful rhetoric. Both Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have taken the radical, anti-science stances of trying to ban gender-affirming care for minors. In 2022, Republicans spent more than $50 million on anti-trans ads. The numbers and the rhetoric will only get worse. That’s why we have to organize to stop this everywhere, from the state legislature to the White House.
Fight Back Check your voter registration status
FREEDOM TAKES WORK.
JOIN US TODAY.
Fight Back for Abortion Access
50 years ago, Roe v Wade enshrined a right to abortion. In 2022, an extreme right-wing Supreme Court overturned it. The conservative movement won’t stop until abortion is illegal everywhere. Here’s our plan to fight back.
What Can I Do?
Donate SUPPORT THE FIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM TODAY
-
Donate
Direct Abortion Support
Millions of Americans now live in abortion care deserts. Providing abortions has become all the more difficult and expensive in a rapidly changing legal landscape. Here's how you can help support efforts to provide financial, legal, and logistical assistance to pregnant people who cannot afford the cost of an abortion or do not have access to one where they live. -
Donate
Political Impact
The effort to overturn Roe vs Wade has been the product of over forty years of conservatives working to build power at the local and state level. Although we’ve made significant progress over the last four years, progressives still have a lot of work to do to build the organizing networks, candidate pipelines, and local relationships that we’ll need in the long term. That’s why we’re investing in direct democracy and local organizing. There's no time to lose.
Fight Back Abortion is on the Ballot
Fight Back ACTION AND RESOURCES
-
Get Info on How to Get an Abortion
INeedA’s goal is to make it as easy as possible to find the information and resources that apply to you: Not only your closest clinics, but if you enter that you’re a minor in a state with parental consent laws, you’ll see that information too. If you click a button asking saying “How am I going to afford this?,” you’ll find your state’s Abortion Funds and Practical Support Networks. If you’re under 10-weeks and in a state that allows telemedicine and abortion pills by mail, you’ll see that as an option. -
Volunteer with Your Local Abortion Clinic
There are practical support organizations that provide things like rides, housing, childcare, etc. to people who are traveling for an abortion. Find the fund or clinic in your area and give either your time or money based on the needs, which many of the local sites list out. Find yours today! -
Join the VSA Community
The conservative movement has spent decades building power at the local and state level to reach this very moment. A majority of Americans support a legal right to abortion, but we don’t see that overwhelming support reflected by our current elected officials. Building a progressive, pro-choice candidate pipeline, winning majorities in state houses, and confirming progressive judges will take time, but 2022 proved that there's a lot we can do right now to protect abortion rights in the near term and realize the promise of our democracy in the long term. The work doesn't stop in 2023.
Learn More HOW THE F*CK DID WE GET HERE?
-
Strict Scrutiny
Strict Scrutiny is a podcast hosted by three women who talk about the United States Supreme Court and the legal culture that surrounds it. Tune in for an emergency episode to discuss a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion that indicates the justices are prepared to overrule the decisions protecting and reaffirming the constitutional right to an abortion. -
Pod Save America: 12/14/21
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Texas abortion ban, Pod Save America ran a special feature on the future of Roe v. Wade that includes moving stories from people who’ve already been affected by abortion restrictions. -
The Game Plan w/ Leah Litman
We planned an event to talk about the 2022 midterm map. But then… things changed. Following the leaked draft decision overturning Roe vs Wade, law professor, Strict Scrutiny co-host, and Supreme Court expert Leah Litman sat down with Crooked Media Senior Political Director Shaniqua McClendon to answer all your burning questions about the ruling and discuss the next steps to fight back against abortion bans.
