Campaign for Southern Equality

New work in The Lavender South from l.e. keats, an artist and poet from Richmond, Virginia. Their painting Take Me Home reflects on queerness, healing, and community as the place where we learn we were never meant to become ourselves alone. buff.ly/RrzbdB1

We are grateful to @ACLU.org for filing a lawsuit against this heinous law in defense of trans Kansans. We join in solidarity with trans people everywhere: you belong in public spaces, and we will not stand by while your rights are stripped away.

Federal Prisons Bar Gender-Affirming Care for Trans People ‘People will die,’ an advocate warns, as standard treatments for gender dysphoria are replaced with therapy and antidepressants after Trump’s order.

This is a cruel attack on incarcerated trans folks, who will face untold harms from this medically necessary care being taken away.

We’re sending support + solidarity to all impacted & will share updates as they’re available. Learn more: buff.ly/Y5l7vA0

Thank you to everyone who submitted public comments against the proposed federal rules that would severely limit youth gender-affirming care access. Interested in learning what happens next? Swipe through to learn more.

New work in The Lavender South from Johanna E. Hall, a Pushcart nominated poet from Charlottesville, Virginia. Their poem engages lesbian identity, faith, disability, and lived experience with care and clarity. buff.ly/g3SYcmg

Winter Olympics 2026: All the queer athletes who won medals We are the champions! With nearly 50 out athletes competing, the Milan Cortina Games are the gayest yet.

The Milan Winter Olympics had more out LGBTQ+ athletes compete than any other Olympic games in history! Congratulations to all who competed and won.

Our next Resource Center is in 1️⃣ week! We have a great lineup for you including an interactive installation for Black History Month & the chance to brew your own tea with Aflorar Herbal Collective. Join us 11-5 on 2/26 at 20 Oak Street in Asheville ✨

Kansas, Idaho, Utah, Oklahoma in New Push to Restrict Transgender Rights In states that once focused mainly on health care and sports for transgender minors, debates now revolve around the validity of transgender identity.

A new article in the New York Times takes a deep dive into the ways conservative state lawmakers are ramping up anti-LGBTQ+ policymaking, and features insight from our Executive Director Jasmine Beach-Ferrara.

Our next Resource Center is in 1️⃣ week! We have a great lineup for you including an interactive installation for Black History Month & the chance to brew your own tea with Aflorar Herbal Collective. Join us 11-5 on 2/26 at 20 Oak Street in Asheville ✨

Trans Youth Emergency Project: Supporting Families of Trans Youth Supporting families of trans youth nationwide through the logistical and financial burdens of navigating bans on gender-affirming care.

Please help spread the word about the Trans Youth Emergency Project, which is here to help families, and reach out if you need help. www.transyouthemergencyproject.org

We know that reading the news about transgender young people these days can feel like blow after blow – that's how we're feeling about the saddening wave of providers who have stopped providing care to transgender young people, even though there are no federal attacks that require a closure.

Awful to see this harmful decision from NYU Langone. We’re sending so much love & support to every young trans person & their family that’s losing access to care. The Trans Youth Emergency Project is here to support impacted families – reach out for help: buff.ly/UKwQBwm

New work in The Lavender South from Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., a queer writer and educator from eastern Kentucky. In their personal essay, Willie reflects on queerness, Appalachia, and writing as a way to honor people who feel unseen and unloved. buff.ly/ES8yvkX

Planning to come to our LGBTQ+ Resource & Resilience Center on Feburary 26th? Bring in your gently worn clothes and participate in our clothing swap! Swipe through for more info and more ways to get involved as a clothing swap volunteer!

NY officials raise rainbow flag at Stonewall in rebuke of Trump administration New York politicians defiantly raised a rainbow flag at the Stonewall National Monument amid a boisterous, cheering crowd.

Resistance in New York! Local officials have raised a pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument after the Trump administration had it removed. This is an ongoing fight-- we won't let our history be erased. Read the full story: buff.ly/tibm2RJ

This week in GA, a previously good bill addressing healthcare access was hijacked in the State Senate to further restrict healthcare access for trans folks, including trans youth and state employees. Take action with Georgia Equality: bit.ly/takeactionga

Trans youth need some extra love right now & we need your help to send it 💌🏳️‍⚧️

While love is in the air this weekend, send a message of love and support to trans youth to let them know you have their backs ❤️‍🔥 buff.ly/ONzDQlm

In NC, state lawmakers are intimidating schools into taking books that feature LGBTQ+ and people of color stories off the shelves– but we aren’t standing for it. We worked with local partners to send a message to our school board here in Buncombe County. Read the full letter at buff.ly/b6GxvLX

Trans youth healthcare access is being rolled back in Utah. Join us for this virtual Town Hall event on Monday, Feb 16 at 7:00pm MT to learn more about what's happening and what resources exist, including from the Trans Youth Emergency Project. RSVP for this event at buff.ly/0MYpoUS

Our next monthly support group for parents & caregivers of trans youth is coming up! The next virtual event will be held Sunday, February 15th at 6:30 PM EST. Learn more and register: buff.ly/4WSRFHU

🚨1 week left to submit your comment to HHS and protect trans youth healthcare access🚨

We need to speak out against these rules so they know how strongly we oppose these awful attacks on trans youth healthcare access.

Submit your comment before Feb. 17th: bit.ly/submit_comment

We are proud to share this poem from Jai Thando Stephens exploring her Black, Queer, Southern experience. This is what Black History Month is all about– drawing on the lessons of the past to fuel our fight for Black liberation today. Read the full poem: buff.ly/NTiPym8.

A bill that requires students in public schools to use restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their sex assigned at birth has passed the House and now heads to the Senate. This bill directly targets transstudents and puts already vulnerable youth at greater risk. buff.ly/KHy8X2a

Federal Court Rules Requiring Use of Trans Student’s Pronouns Does Not Violate First Amendment A Christian substitute teacher first sued the school for having to use a trans student's pronouns in 2024.

In a big win for trans students, a federal appeals court has rejected claims that school’s requiring staff to use students’ pronouns violates freedom of speech. buff.ly/n8HJyoq

We are excited to introduce our first featured artist in The Lavender South, Drake McFadyen. Drake tells their younger self “You will be okay. You will grow into someone who can create, who can be loved, and who doesn’t have to do it alone.” southernequality.org/when-she-cou...

Trans Youth Emergency Project: Supporting Families of Trans Youth Supporting families of trans youth nationwide through the logistical and financial burdens of navigating bans on gender-affirming care.

We want families of transgender youth to know that our Trans Youth Emergency Project is here and able to offer support. Learn more and get support: transyouthemergencyproject.org

Trans youth under 19 left with few options for gender-affirming care in NC After North Carolina’s two largest medical providers halted gender-affirming care for patients below the age of 19, trans youth in the state are left with few options for treatment.Ahead of a looming…

We are incredibly disappointed that Advocate Health and UNC Health here in North Carolina are stopping gender-affirming care for the few youth who were still able to access care in-state. buff.ly/bVeiw94

After a doxxing, a transgender Texan pitmaster forges his own way "There's not a queer space in barbecue yet, so let's create one." 

Kaleb Blain, a transgender pitmaster in Waco, Texas, is building his own barbecue business after being doxxed and losing his job. His work represents a visible commitment to inclusion and belonging in an industry that has not always been welcoming.

Trans Youth Emergency Project: Supporting Families of Trans Youth Supporting families of trans youth nationwide through the logistical and financial burdens of navigating bans on gender-affirming care.

If your family has been impacted by political attacks on youth gender-affirming care access, get support from the Trans Youth Emergency Project: transyouthemergencyproject.org

We are grateful for the brave plaintiffs in this case, and are proud to be able to offer support to families of transgender youth impacted by the stoppage of youth gender-affirming care in California and across the country.