How to Get Involved in the Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
Buckle up, these next several years are going to be difficult...
Let’s be real, things are about to get chaotic for the next several years. Every time we open social media, we are immediately bombarded with headlines of yet another executive order or another incident that reminds us yet again that transgender people are not welcome.
The relentless stream of breaking news triggers a whirlwind of emotions — rage, grief, exhaustion and the urge to do something. Some of us may find ourselves pushing through the noise while others feel our nervous systems shutting down under the crushing weight of it all. Trump has won. That’s our reality.
The only question left now is: what do we do now?
Or rather, what can I do?
A good question, indeed. The LGBTQ+ community, and the allies who support us, bring an incredible range of skills to the movement. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just getting started, there’s a place for you in this fight.
In fact, news reports highlight how people are responding to the rapidly changing political landscape. In response to Trump’s executive order, a few hospitals immediately cut off gender-affirming care for anyone under 19. The response was swift as a recent wave of rallies erupted in major U.S. cities, with thousands demanding that hospitals resume gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
If marching on the streets isn’t your thing, don’t stress! While protests are powerful statements in action, they are not the only way to make an impact. Activism isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are countless ways to take action, no matter your capacity.
In this post, we will break down the many accessible ways YOU can take action — not just to defend LGBTQ+ rights, but to push for progress even in the face of adversity.
Note: For added convenience, I include these icons next to each one based on accessibility, personal capacity and skills.
💚 - Low Energy
💛 - Medium Energy
❤️🔥 - High Energy
💚 - Donate: If you have the means to spare some coin but don’t have much time to get involved in other ways, donating is a great way to show support. Send money directly to mutual aid funds by transgender people in need or small grassroots organizations (every dollar counts!) that are helping transgender people. Some good examples of organizations to donate to are The Okra Project, Advocates 4 Trans Equality and ACLU.
A word of caution: 501(c)(3) organizations are required by law to disclose their financial statements so make sure to do a little research before donating to get a sense of how they allocate their funding.
💚 - Share social media posts: All that doomscrolling energy can be funneled into sharing, reposting and amplifying LGBTQ+ posts on any social media platform (Instagram, X, TikTok, Threads, etc.) or text messages. If you don’t have the spoons to educate others, let the content you share do the legwork for you. Hell, send them into your family group chat.
💚 - Support small businesses: Buy from trans-owned businesses, entrepreneurs and freelancers to help sustain their work. If you can’t afford their offerings, share their business with your networks!
💚 - Volunteer your time: Want to help shape upcoming elections? Partner with state organizations that mobilize voters at city council meetings and pressure lawmakers to protect LGBTQ+ rights. If phone calls feel overwhelming (I get it), email campaigns are just as effective. If you have valuable skills, such as designing beautiful websites, offer your services to grassroots organizations.
Prefer in-person action? Volunteer as a safety captain at rallies and protests to help protect fellow activists.
💚 - Sign petitions: Sign and share petitions with your networks. It takes only a few minutes of your time and every signature counts towards achieving equity. Many of these petitions can be found through subscribing to mailing lists from ACLU and Advocates 4 Trans Equality.
💛 - Write letters: You can write to your lawmakers (use this tool to find your elected officials) demanding immediate action against the increasing number of anti-trans bills. If you have a hard time writing your own, you can use this pre-written template.
💛 - Educate yourself and others: You don’t need to be an actual teacher or be a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) trainer giving LGBTQ+ trainings like me. Educating doesn’t mean giving a TED Talk; it can be as simple as starting a conversation or challenging misinformation when you hear it. Correct misgendering when it’s safe to do so, and help friends navigate the news. Even a simple “Hey, that’s not true” can shift close-minded perspectives.
Some news sources that would be good to follow are NPR, Them, Advocate and Out Magazine.
💡 Tip: If you are a new LGBTQ+ ally, start educating yourself by reading this.
💛 - Donate banned books: Share your love of reading by donating your queer-affirming books to schools, LGBTQ+ centers and small libraries.
💛 - Start a support group: If you struggle with in-person gatherings, consider creating an online safe space instead. A good way to do this is to start a Discord server. Fun fact about me — I actually got my start in activism back in 2015 with creating a Facebook group for transmasculine people.
❤️🔥 - Provide community care: A trans person you know needs a ride to their appointment or a ride home after gender-affirming surgery? Offer to drive them. Someone in your community needs a job? Offer to assist with their resume and send them job listings as you find them. The possibilities are endless here.
❤️🔥 - Join the LGBTQ+ committee at your workplace: Love the work you do but not seeing the change you need? Initiate it by finding out if your company has employee resource groups (ERGs) that meet and discuss special projects, such as advocating for inclusive restroom policies or offering employee insurance plans that cover gender-affirming care. If there isn’t an ERG specifically for LGBTQ+ employees, find out the process on how to start one at your workplace and get the buy-in from your queer colleagues to join you.
❤️🔥 - Start mutual aid fundraisers: Have an idea to support trans people looking for assistance with name change fees? Know a local community leader who's done amazing work but needs help raising money for their gender-affirming surgery?
❤️🔥 - Organize events: It can be a protest, self-defense class, Know-Your-Rights training or even a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Create a space for queer and trans people to gather together around a shared interest or cause. If organizing an in-person event, make sure to create a sensory-friendly space that’s accessible (think low lighting, fidget toys, captions, ASL interpretation, etc.) for neurodivergent and disabled community members. Accessibility goes beyond offering wheelchair access.
❤️🔥 - Engage in content creation: Design infographics, social media posts or digital zines that visually explain current news and LGBTQ+ issues. You don’t have to be a seasoned graphic designer to use Canva. If all else fails, make YouTube or TikTok videos that break down legal issues and amplify call to actions for the everyday person.
❤️🔥 - Create art: If you are a photographer, snap photos at rallies and protests and share them with the world. If you are a writer, use your unique voice to break down what’s happening in the news. If you are an artist, lead community members in designing a mural that raises awareness.
❤️🔥 - Participate in protests and rallies: When people think of activism, they picture folks with megaphones leading chants in the streets. From Stonewall Riots to today, protests have been a powerful conduit for change. Whether you are leading chants, holding a sign, or just showing up in numbers, your presence sends a clear message to the world that you are here and you are not backing down.
As you can see, activism comes in many different forms and almost anyone can contribute to the movement. We are not all meant to be on the front lines like Sylvia Rivera or Marsha P. Johnson but that does not mean that what we do doesn’t matter.
No action is too small. Donate, join a protest, educate people or volunteer with others. Whatever you do, you are a part of the fight. The best time to step up? Right now.