Pride 2019: Donate to these LGBTQ organizations

June is officially LGBTQ Pride Month with parades and events held nationwide. The LGBTQ community celebrate their long and powerful history along with a demand for equal rights. It’s a loud and proud party, full of all-encompassing love from a whole range of unique individuals.

We curated the perfect Pride playlist full of LGBTQ artists and self-love anthems so you can celebrate in style.

There are many LGBTQ artists normalizing the community through their music and our endless support only furthers their progression. While supporting our favorite musicians is a great way to spread the word about the community’s struggles, we’ve provided a list of non-profit organizations you can donate to and help our LGBTQ family.

The Trevor Project

In 1998, The Trevor Project was founded by Peggy Rajski, Randy Stone, and James Lecesne, the creators of the Academy Award-winning short film TREVOR. The LGBTQ community is more vulnerable to violence and bullying, furthering opening them to symptoms of depression and suicide. Because of this, the organization offers crisis intervention, suicide prevention services, and life-affirming programs to LGBTQ youth.

National Center for Transgender Equality

Founded by fellow transgender activists, the National Center for Transgender Equality strives to fight for transgender rights. They work at local and federal levels, providing an understanding of the transgender community through changing laws and policies. They also vow to protect transgender lives and stop violence against the community, allowing them to live in a peaceful and beneficial society.

National Center for Lesbian Rights

Founded by a group of women in 1977, the National Center for Lesbian Rights fights for racial, LGBTQ, and economic justice. As a non-profit law firm, it provides free legal help for LGBTQ people, public education on LGBTQ issues, supports equal right policies for the community, and many other legal situations.

The Ally Coalition

Founded by the band FUN. in 2013, The Ally Coalition uses the power of music to spearhead a change for LGBTQ rights. It supports other organizations dedicated to assisting LGBTQ youth. With LGBTQ youth more susceptible to being victims of bullying, violence, suicide, and depression, The Ally Coalition teams up with numerous musicians to put that to an end. Artists like Bleachers, Troye Sivan, Lorde, Hayley Kiyoko, and Taylor Swift have all taken part in spreading the word about The Ally Coalition and its mission.

Transgender Law Center

The Transgender Law Center vows to change laws, policies, and society in order for the transgender community to live peacefully. They believe transgender individuals should be able to live genuinely without fear of discrimination from other groups—a basic human right that should be allowed among everyone. As the largest trans-led organization, they are also committed to fighting against racial injustice for immigrant and black trans people.

True Colors United

Founded by Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Barbaris, and Jonny Podell, True Colors United provides assistance for homeless LGBTQ youth. After discovering over ten years ago that nearly 40% of the homeless population identified as LGBTQ, they vowed to support these youths in homeless shelters and educate their providers on how to care properly for them. With leadership programs and inclusive services, they ensure their voices are heard.

It Gets Better Project

Founded in 2010 by Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller, the It Gets Better Project began as a social media campaign used to inspire hope among LGBTQ individuals, allowing them to share their story. As a non-profit organization, their mission is to protect, provide, and empower the LGBTQ community. Their name says it all—it gets better—reaffirming their dedication to other LGBTQ individuals struggling with their identity especially while in the throes of growing up. They even allow others to share their story, furthering their mantra “it gets better.”

Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Based in New York City, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project works hard to solidify everyone is able to express their gender identity, no matter what their race or income is. They have legal services such as the Survival and Self Determination Project, Immigrant Justice Project, and Prisoner Justice Project, which provides assistance to low-income trans, non-gender conforming, intersex people as well as immigrants and people being held in New York City jails or prisons.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

Founded in 1973, the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is the longest-running organization dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and individuals living with HIV. Through education, policy change, and impact litigation, they select cases that help advance the community’s rights.