Dear Friends,

Some moments in history demand more than words — they demand our courage, our conviction and our unwavering commitment to justice. As we honor Black History Month, the legacy of Black queer revolutionaries reminds us that progress has always required those brave enough to stand up when others stayed seated, to speak out when others remained silent.

Their stories run like threads through the fabric of our movement: Bayard Rustin, orchestrating the March on Washington with unshakeable determination, even as some tried to push him to the shadows for living openly as a gay man. Marsha P. Johnson and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, their fierce joy and resilience transforming a riot into a revolution. Audre Lorde, whose words still thunder through the decades: "Without community, there is no liberation."

This spirit of courage and community was on full display this past weekend at our Greater New York Dinner, where I stood before more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ advocates and allies and declared a truth that bears repeating: "You can try all you want to change laws and policies, but you will never erase the LGBTQ+ community. Lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer folks have always been here and we are not going anywhere."

The evening was a powerful reminder of how visibility creates change. We were honored to celebrate groundbreaking talent and fearless advocacy, presenting our Impact Award to Heartstopper star Joe Locke, our Visibility Award to The Gilded Age actress Louisa Jacobson, and our Influence Award to digital creator and intersectional justice advocate RaeShanda Lias. Each honoree represents a different facet of our movement's strength — from storytelling that changes hearts, to art that expands our vision of what's possible, to bold voices that speak truth to power.

Congresswoman Sarah McBride's message particularly resonates in this moment: "While I wish we could convince people of the rightness of our cause from the comfort of our own quiet... the reality is that democracy is not easy. Changemaking is not easy, and it's not always fair, but it is possible."

Today, we need this legacy of courage more than ever. This week, President Trump issued an executive order attempting to ban transgender students from participating in school sports teams that align with their gender identity. Let me be clear: This is not about sports. This is about whether we believe in the promise of America — a promise that says every child deserves to grow up knowing they belong.

What breaks my heart — and steels my resolve — is how these policies harm all young people, not just those they target. Across the country, we're seeing the cruel and predictable consequences: students facing harassment and discrimination simply for not conforming to narrow gender stereotypes. These are not isolated incidents — they are the direct result of policies built on fear instead of facts, division instead of dignity.

This week also marked one year since we lost Nex Benedict, a loss that reminds us that these battles we fight are not abstract policy debates — they are matters of life and death. Every time we allow discrimination to be enshrined in law, we put young lives at risk. Every time we stay silent in the face of hate, we become complicit in its consequences.

But here's what gives me hope: In every community where anti-LGBTQ+ attacks have been waged I've witnessed something extraordinary. Parents of all backgrounds standing up defending not just their own children but all children. This is what progress looks like in real time. It's not always tidy. It doesn't always move in a straight line.

Bayard Rustin once said, "We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers." These words resonate deeply today because they remind us that the most profound changes often come from gentle people with unshakeable resolve. When Rustin spoke of "angelic troublemakers," he wasn't calling for warriors — he was calling for dreamers brave enough to make their dreams reality.

So today, I'm asking you to be an angelic troublemaker. The Human Rights Campaign was built for moments like this. Our power has always come from ordinary people doing extraordinary things — showing up, speaking out, standing together. Whether you're a parent, an athlete, a coach, or simply someone who believes in fairness, your voice matters in this fight.

And we're not just speaking out — we're taking action. This week, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service.

The courage of our plaintiffs — six actively serving transgender servicemembers and one aspiring recruit — reminds us what real patriotism looks like. These brave individuals have already sacrificed so much for our country. Now they're fighting not just for their right to serve, but for every qualified patriot to serve free from discrimination.

As we navigate these challenging times, HRC is evolving to meet this pivotal moment in history. We are reimagining what's possible, reorienting our work, and strengthening our organization to face the battles ahead.

Change isn't always easy, but it is necessary — and I am filled with unshakeable optimism about our path forward.

This optimism comes not just from our legacy or our victories, but from seeing the determination in your eyes, the strength in your stories, and the love in your hearts. As we transform to meet tomorrow's challenges, know that our commitment to justice and equality remains unwavering. Together, we are writing the next chapter in America's long journey toward justice — and I've never been more certain of our ability to win.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, we saw a powerful reminder that the fight for equality is far from over — but so is our ability to fight back and win. A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump’s executive order attacking health care for transgender people. In his ruling, the judge made it clear: this administration’s attempts to erase us are not just cruel, they are legally indefensible. This decision is a victory, but it’s also a call to action — because the attacks will keep coming, and we must be ready.

We are living in extraordinary times — times that demand bold action, unwavering commitment, and a movement that is more strategic, more powerful, and more relentless than ever before. Today in the Advocate, I shared my vision for how the Human Rights Campaign is evolving to meet this moment. Here’s the bottom line: We are not playing defense. We are fighting forward.

Over the last year, our opponents have launched the most aggressive, coordinated attack on LGBTQ+ rights we’ve seen in modern history. More than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures, extremist politicians are weaponizing disinformation to stoke fear, and our fundamental rights are being targeted from the highest levels of our government. They are trying to erase us from public life — but history has shown us one undeniable truth: every attempt to diminish us has only made us stronger.

So HRC is evolving to ensure that we are stronger than ever. That means sharpening our focus and doubling down on the places where we know we can make the biggest impact:

Schools — Every student deserves to learn without fear. We are expanding our work to ensure inclusive policies, train educators and provide critical resources to parents and students fighting back against bans and censorship.

Workplaces — Your talent should matter more than your identity. We are strengthening workplace protections, pushing back against anti-DEI attacks and expanding our Corporate Equality Index to hold businesses accountable.

Policy & Politics — Our fundamental rights should never be up for debate–including access to evidence-based healthcare supported by every major medical association in the country. We are strategically mobilizing voters, investing in local elections and ensuring LGBTQ+ voices shape policy at every level of government.

We are doing more than just resisting attacks — we are going on offense. Our movement has always been powered by people, and today, that power is rising. We see it in trans youth refusing to be erased, in parents and educators standing up for inclusive schools, in faith leaders rejecting hate and in communities coming together to say: we will not go backward.

The road ahead won’t be easy, but we’ve never shied away from a fight. From Stonewall to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” from banning conversion therapy to defeating anti-trans bathroom bills, history proves that when we fight, we win. And now, it’s our turn to write the next chapter of progress.

I invite you to read my full message and stay engaged in this fight. HRC was built for this moment, and together, we are ready.

Thank you for being part of this movement. Wishing you a restful weekend — and renewed strength for the work ahead.

P.S. There is no STONEWALL without the 'T'! There is no LGBTQ+ community without the “TQ+”! Show your outrage over the U.S. Park Service and Trump Administration removing trans and queer people from the Stonewall National Monument site >>

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."

— Alice Walker

Dear Friends,

These words from Alice Walker illuminate the extraordinary demonstrations of power we've witnessed from our community this week — power that grows stronger every time we raise our voices together.

Your response to our "100,000 Actions in 100 Days" challenge embodies this collective strength. With more than 144,000 actions and counting (just over a month in), you've shattered our initial goal and sent an unmistakable message to the administration: discrimination will be met with resistance. Each signature, each call, each letter is an act of defiance. You’ve stood against the trans military ban threatening our service members and national security. You've rallied against funding freezes impacting critical programs like the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, Meals on Wheels, and PEPFAR. When the Trump administration attempted to erase trans people from the Stonewall National Monument and federal policies, you responded with an overwhelming surge of visibility that continues to grow. These aren't just numbers — they're proof of what happens when we refuse to be silent. And it's not too late if you haven’t participated yet.

This week's Gallup poll tells a story that every organizer understands: visibility is power. Nearly one in ten American adults now openly identify as LGBTQ+. This isn't just demographic data — it's a political reality that changes the mathematics of every election, every policy fight and every movement for change. To those who think they can legislate us out of existence: you can't erase 10% of the population. We're your neighbors, your colleagues, your family members and, yes, your constituents.

In the face of rising discrimination, Governor Pritzker's State of the State speech hit at the heart of what's at stake. When he asked, "What comes next?" after all the discrimination and division, he named the empty core of anti-equality politics. After all the energy spent trying to erase our community — what problems have actually been solved? This is the kind of clear-eyed analysis our movement needs — leaders who understand that hatred is not a policy solution and fear is not a governing strategy.

This principle was powerfully demonstrated this week when Maine Governor Janet Mills stood her ground in the White House State Dining Room. When directly challenged about trans athletes' rights and threatened with the loss of federal funding, Governor Mills didn't flinch. Her response was clear and resolute: "We're going to follow the law, sir," followed by a powerful "see you in court." This is what leadership looks like — standing firm in defense of our community's rights, even when faced with direct pressure and threats. Governor Mills showed us that when we speak truth to power, we claim our own.

As we approach the 10th Annual National Day of Reading next week, remember: every movement for justice has been powered by stories. When we read about our history, when we share our experiences, when we document our struggles and triumphs, we're not just preserving memories — we're creating blueprints for resistance. Every book that tells our truth is another tool in our organizing toolkit.

The path ahead won’t be easy. Those trying to roll back our rights are betting on our exhaustion, our division, our surrender. They're betting wrong. We'll outlast them, because we're fighting for something bigger than politics. We're fighting for the fundamental right to exist as ourselves.

HRC, this is a marathon, not a sprint. But look at what we've already accomplished — more than 144,000 actions, record-breaking visibility and leaders stepping up to champion our cause. That's what power looks like when we claim it.

Together, we're not just resisting — we're reimagining what's possible. Thank you for being part of this movement, for understanding that every action counts and for believing that love, justice and dignity are always worth fighting for.

Dear Friends,

I remember the first time I saw myself in a book. It was "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. As a young Black girl growing up on the south side of Chicago, where concrete often seemed more prevalent than green space, this story of Peter exploring his neighborhood after a snowfall captivated me. His red snowsuit, his wonder at the world, and those little footsteps in the snow — they created a magical connection that transcended my everyday reality while simultaneously validating it.

READ: The Snowy Day.

In my neighborhood, we cherished snow days too. We built snowmen on small patches of yard and slid on icy sidewalks. We found joy in those transformed spaces, just like Peter did. Seeing that joy — our joy — reflected in a celebrated book was revolutionary for me. It wasn't just about representation; it was about dignity. Peter wasn't explaining his Blackness or justifying his existence in that city neighborhood; he was simply living, playing and experiencing his world with the full humanity all children deserve.

What made this moment so powerful was that "The Snowy Day" was one of the first mainstream children's books to feature a Black protagonist when it was published in 1962. Without making it the focus of the story, Keats quietly broke barriers by showing that our ordinary moments, our discoveries, our communities deserved to be celebrated too. That validation stays with me to this day and drives so much of our work at HRC.

As we close out another challenging but impactful week, I want to reflect on a significant milestone: the tenth anniversary of our Welcoming Schools National Day of Reading.

This memory was at the forefront of my mind today as we hosted our National Day of Reading celebration at HRC headquarters, marking a decade of this powerful initiative. Our lobby transformed into a vibrant reading space filled with excited students from Washington International School, alongside NEA Vice President Princess Moss and our special guest reader Charlotte Clymer. Looking at those eager faces, I was reminded why representation matters so profoundly, especially as we face unprecedented attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ people to simply exist and be seen.

What began ten years ago in a small Midwest town as a response to censorship of Jazz Jennings' story has grown into a movement that now reaches nearly 100,000 people across America and Canada annually. In my remarks to our young visitors, I shared this origin story — how hundreds of adults came together to read Jazz's story aloud when others tried to silence it.

"Every person has a story to tell, and every story deserves to be heard," I told the children gathered around. "Sometimes people try to take books off library shelves, because they're scared of stories that are different from what they know. But we know that the best libraries and the best classrooms have all kinds of books about all kinds of people."

Watching the children engage with diverse stories that reflected both their own lives and experiences different from their own was a powerful reminder of why this celebration comes at such a critical moment, as we face unprecedented attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the country.

At a time when transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive youth are under increasing attack, we can show our support and create truly inclusive spaces for them by organizing a reading at a school, library, bookstore, place of worship or community center. Donate now to provide affirming books to a local school or library serving multiply-marginalized populations across the country. It just might change their lives.

This week in Iowa, we witnessed both heartbreak and hope as the legislature voted to remove gender identity protections from the state's Civil Rights Act. In response, hundreds of Iowans showed up at the capitol to protest this discriminatory legislation. The sight of so many allies and community members standing shoulder to shoulder, raising their voices against hate, reminds us of the power of community resistance.

While the vote represents a devastating setback, the massive turnout demonstrates that Iowans will not silently accept the erosion of fundamental rights. This grassroots energy reinforces why our solidarity and advocacy are more vital than ever.

Earlier this month, HRC Foundation and Lambda Legal filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the transgender military ban. On February 19th, we asked the district court to block the ban while litigation proceeds. Just yesterday, we condemned the Department of Defense guidance implementing this policy, which institutes a 30-day period to begin separation of current transgender servicemembers and immediately impacts their access to healthcare.

This total ban on transgender service members — both current and prospective — is appalling and just another example of how extremists are using our community as an entry point to spread hate and discrimination. We must ask ourselves: What's next? Will they turn back the clock on the roles women can serve in? Will other marginalized groups be the next target? Make no mistake — this is not about military readiness. It's about forcing transgender Americans from public life.

The courage and sacrifice demonstrated by transgender service members in uniform deserve our utmost respect and protection — not discrimination. This unshakeable truth extends to all members of our community facing discrimination and erasure, from schoolchildren to service members to everyday citizens in states like Iowa.

As I shared with the children at our headquarters today, "When we read together, we learn together, and we grow together." The same is true of our advocacy — when we stand together, our collective voice grows stronger against the forces trying to erase our community.

I remain inspired by the resilience and determination of our community. Your continued support makes our work possible, and together, we will continue to fight for a world where every LGBTQ+ person can live freely, openly and without fear.