Event recap · How philanthropy can advance LGBTQIA+ equality
At the same time that anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation and vitriol are on the rise, we are also seeing the LGBTQIA+ community represented in media, government, and elsewhere more than ever. This juxtaposition reminds us that progress is possible—and it is also fragile and reversible.
In a webinar co-hosted by Aperio Philanthropy and the NYU SPS George H. Heyman, Jr. Program for Philanthropy and Fundraising, expert panelists explored how nonprofits and funders can accelerate change and forge a coordinated path forward.
Moderator:
Dr. Sylvia Maier (she/her), Center for Global Affairs at NYU School of Professional Studies
Panelists:
Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her), President and CEO, GLAAD
Kris Hayashi (he/him), Executive Director, Transgender Law Center
Rebecca Fox (she/her), Vice President of Programs, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
Katie Hultquist (she/her), Director of Leadership Giving, OutRight Action International
The panel of advocates and nonprofit leaders shared their expertise and analysis of the current landscape and helped us better understand the role philanthropy can and should play in advancing a more equitable future. We explored these questions:
How would you describe our current moment in the U.S. and globally, and where do you see all of us in this fight?
How would you describe the current funding landscape for the LGBTQIA+ movement?
Where should foundations and other institutional funders be focused? How can they drive change most effectively?
What role can donors play in driving policy change, long-term and sustainably?
The current moment in the U.S. and globally—and our role in this fight
Laying a foundation for the conversation to follow, panelists discussed the lens and vision through which they approach their work. At the Transgender Law Center, Executive Director Kris Hayachi’s work centers community for those who have experienced the highest rates of attacks and the greatest challenges. The conservative right in the U.S. has taken on attacking the trans community, and driving increased violence, harassment, and discrimination.
Examples include bathroom bills in the last decade and the rollback of rights at the federal level during the Trump administration, as well as the recent escalation of state bills focused on criminalizing gender-affirming care in youth. “The transgender community is bombarded by this legislature and hate. It’s terrifying and devastating,” said Kris. “The conservative right has realized that attacking trans people is a way for them to stay in power, win votes, and build their base.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, highlighted the confusion of the current moment. “We’ve never seen more representation in streaming content: More diverse representation. More people of color, LGBTQIA+, and trans and gender nonbinary representation. We’re seeing less LGBTQIA+ people dying as part of storyline plots. Juxtapose that against new forms of legislation. Over 300 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills are in state legislatures. More young people are coming out than ever before. There is a path forward, but we’ve never seen such strong backlash either.”
These movements—both to undermine and to increase LGBTQIA+ equality—exist in some form across the globe. Katie Hultquist, Director of Leadership Giving, OutRight Action International, noted, “There is no country that has achieved full equality.” Sixty-seven countries criminalize same-sex relations, with some implementing the death penalty. Fourteen countries have banned conversion therapy.
There’s a well-coordinated and well-funded backlash against women and LGBTQIA+ rights linked to anti-democracy moments in countries like Russia, Gambia, and Ghana, where even meetings like this could be cause for arrest. Meanwhile, at least 15 countries have decriminalized same-sex marriage, and the World Health Organization has removed ‘transgendered’ from consideration as a mental health illness.
Change is happening. Change is possible. Rebecca Fox, Vice President of Programs at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, noted that organizations like Astraea are pushing society “to move to a space of openness without fear of violence and acceptance without fear of violence or rejection.” However, even when more liberal policies are enacted at the federal level, the fight doesn’t stop; it shifts. Far-right attacks continue to proliferate at the state and global level.
It’s imperative that advocacy work be approached through an intersectional lens to bring about the most inclusive change.
“We need to deeply invest and resource organizations who are at the forefront of the attacks…they know what they’re doing and how to do it. They just don’t have the resources to fight back at the scale and level of attacks we’re facing,” says Kris. “The reality is, if you care about democracy, reproductive justice, environmental justice, you need to be investing in trans rights. The Right is using trans people to roll back rights for everyone. Attacks on the trans community are complex attacks of social rights for all people.”
The current funding landscape for the LGBTQIA+ movement
Philanthropy presents great opportunities to accelerate social change and keep pushing forward. Only $.28 for every $100 awarded by foundations targets LGBTQIA+ advocacy projects, initiatives, and organizations, while just $.02 for every $100 donation is directed to the trans movement. Traditional funders have been seen pulling back, while nonprofits and corporations have stepped in to try and fill the gap—but the panelists each note that the entire LGBTQIA+ movement remains severely under-resourced.
“Progressive funders need to step up in a much bigger way,” Katie said. The panelists agreed that corporations are stepping up, but not enough. Nonprofits and advocates need to push them further.
Across the sector, there seem to be more one-time splashy gifts for good press. These performative gestures don’t allow for nonprofits to staff up or execute long-range plans. Foundations need to be committed for the long haul.
How foundations and other institutional funders can most effectively drive change
Often, grants are directed by select individuals within a grant-giving body who might have a special interest in a particular cause. When turnover happens, that funding dries up. Organizations need to commit to having a full-time position dedicated to funding LGBTQIA+ causes rather than depending on individual staff members who might come and go. Organizations as a whole need to commit to change.
What does that look like? Internal audits of where, when, and how your giving is directed? Asking yourself which demographic groups are—and aren’t—present among your grantmakers? Taking an honest account of where your giving can and is addressing intersectional needs?
Rebecca advised grant givers and nonprofits alike to examine their practices.
“Look at your forms. What are your pronoun options? Do an audit of your website and externally facing materials. Who are you depicting? Who are you putting forward as your face? What are you assuming about family formation? Who are your partners serving?
“Have queer people on your staff and board. Find queer donors and get their input and help. Share and tell their stories.”
Sarah Kate suggested holding corporations accountable through reports and audits, which they often fail.
What role can donors play in driving policy change, long-term and sustainably?
Nonprofit organizations have long been led by people who do not represent the communities they serve—and those organizations tend to be given more leeway by funders for implementing change. Queer and trans organizations, meanwhile, are asked to do a lot of work for little money in a short amount of time.
To be effective in advancing LGBTQIA+ equality, philanthropists must view themselves as part of the solution, partnering with organizations in advancing the organization’s mission.
“Having philanthropy dictate where we spend money or prioritize is the inverse of how it should be,” Sarah Kate said. “They should be asking, ‘What are your priorities? How can I support those? How can I help you build coalitions around that?’”
If a funder is not committed to a long-range vision, they should be explicit about that from the beginning so nonprofits know not to rely on them as a partner.
“Philanthropy should recognize the value of community and long-term commitment—and letting us as leaders do the work we need to do. We understand the movement and where a lot of the problems are that don’t see the light of day or make the headlines. They need to step up.”
For nonprofits doing the hard work, Sarah Kate said, “we need to value ourselves, our input, and our work more. It’s hard because we’re running mom-and-pop shops, trying to keep payroll going and the lights on for folks who are underpaid to begin with.”
Where do we go from here?
“The future is queer and trans,” said Rebecca. “When you look at numbers of visibility and how the next generation is thinking about LGBTQIA+, the level of acceptance is incredibly high. It’s why the conservative right is freaking out. If your organization is not centering queer and trans, you’re losing out programmatically and financially.”
Much of the work needed to achieve LGBTQIA+ equality lies in humanizing those who continue to experience discrimination. While much of the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced increased social acceptance, the trans community continues to be marginalized. The panelists agreed that combatting dehumanizing messages and building empathy for trans community members is key to addressing this issue.
Kris said it’s a “challenging and terrifying time. But I believe there’s an incredible opportunity for us as movements who believe in liberation, justice, and we should value everyone. There’s real value in how we fight back and build and envision a different world…a different way to be in community with each other. When we’re on the other side, it means we’ll land in an incredibly different place. We’re in a position to build a better world.”
Crucial to this message is the truth that every issue is an LGBTQIA+ issue. As trans peoples’ rights continue to be eroded, our society reinforces the belief that some lives are worth more than others—and that spreads to issues ranging from immigrants’ rights to women’s rights, and from racial equity to the urgency with which we address climate change.
“We rise and fall together,” said Katie. “In order to win and achieve our vision, we have to find ways to work together globally and across movements...I am optimistic about finding allies and creating change while also still being grounded in reality.”
Addressing the event audience, Sarah Kate said, “As fundraisers, go out there and ask for unrestricted gifts. Let the people who do the work and live it every day direct and use those funds.
“As citizens, we can all vote in November. It’s always important and growing more so each election cycle. When LGBTQIA+ vote, pro-equality is elected on the ballot. We need to make sure everyone is voting who is pro-equality. Get people, family, and friends mobilized and to the poles. Change happens at the ballot box, at the state, local and federal level.”
Be bold with your asks. Change is possible—sustainable, systemic change. It starts with each one of us and our ability to build grass-roots, intersectional coalitions of allies, advocates, and philanthropists.
Jessica Jones
Prior to joining the Aperio team as Director, Client Services, Jessica oversaw the donor relations program for the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
