by Jessica W.

On April 26, IEB’s LGBTQ+ Town Hall brought together 86 people in a powerful show of solidarity among LGBTQ+ folks and allies. We gathered in person to share fears, find support and build courage in a queer and inclusive space. All of this has taken on a new urgency, given the hostile and discriminatory policies of the current administration.

Speakers shared poetry and lessons from the past and present. And we voiced questions many of us have been asking in isolation:

  • How do we respond to the dangers of being targeted?
  • What lessons can we draw from AIDS-era organizing?
  • How do we bridge generational divides within the LGBTQ+ community?

It was a relief to connect, share, and find inspiration together. Many of us left feeling a deep need for more gatherings like this—and for continued support of LGBTQ+ organizations. 

How you can support our work:

    1. Learn and share. The LGBTQ+ Working Group invited trans activists Adrian and Hope to the April All-Members Meeting to help members understand more deeply what solidarity looks like in this time of threat (recording here). Opportunities like this to learn together are a powerful antidote to fear and misunderstanding. 
    2. Support LGBQT+ organizations. Especially since Trump has taken office, Bay Area LGBTQ+ centers have been under immense pressure. Funding cuts are hitting hard just as needs are skyrocketing.  Please donate, volunteer, and spread the word: 
      • Oakland LGBTQ Community Center urgently needs donations of any size to help (literally) save queer lives.
      • The Pacific Center requests that supporters living in Alameda County complete this survey to defend the need for critical funding for mental health services in the next funding cycle (2026-2029). These funds are crucial for the Pacific Center’s LGBTQ+ peer support and older adult services. 
    3. Speak up! Trans stories are being demonized and politicized to test how much can be taken away from any of us. If you hear something transphobic—or just dismissive of the stakes—say something. Try: “I think trans people are dealing with enough right now, and I want to support them.”
    4. Actively show up for the queer and trans people in your life. Personal support can make all the difference. This might look like listening, staying curious, showing up in real life with rides, food, housing — celebrate and affirm joy!  This is a great place to start.

LGBTQ+ rights are the canary in the coal mine — and it is a warning to all of us. The same extremist forces targeting trans people are also attacking reproductive freedom and voting rights. We can all take action and we need everyone!

We’d love to take this work wherever it’s needed. Please reach out to get involved.

Published by Newsletter Team