Equality North Carolina Foundation

At Equality NC Foundation, we envision a thriving, liberated North Carolina with a powerful LGBTQ+ community united in service of racial and social justice. Our mission is to build LGBTQ+ power through advocacy, education, and uplifting the stories of queer and trans North Carolinians in pursuit of racial and social justice. 

Our Advocacy efforts truly have been tested over the past five years. During that timespan, we've seen heightened threats against LGBTQ+ organizations and individuals as well as an increase in the annual number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed. As of May 2023, 540 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been passed by state legislatures. We saw a total of 41 in 2018. Not only have harmful bills been introduced with alacrity, but they are also moving through legislatures in record speed. 

Since the beginning of 2023, pro-equality North Carolinians have seen our opposition rush through hateful bills targeting all of our communities, especially trans youth. Senate Bill 49, which bans accurate curriculum on gender identity and sexuality in grades K-4 and subjects queer and trans students to forced outing, and House Bill 43, which bans transgender youth under the age of 18 from receiving gender-affirming care moved through the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) in less than 24 hours. 

The NC Legislature recently passed House Bill 574, which bans trans kids from participating on sports teams in alignment with their gender. HB 808, which bans gender-affirming surgeries for trans youth and SB 49, the "Don't Say Gay Bill" are still moving rapidly through the NCGA. They are trying to methodically erode our rights to exist and be free. We know you will not stand for this and neither will we.

The opposition thinks that fast tracking their Slate of Hateful bills will demoralize and demotivate us. They could not be more wrong. Every week we are mobilizing our volunteers to contact their legislators, we are hosting rallies at the State Capitol, we are sharing resources with our Out Electeds and Electeds for Equality. Every day we show our strength in numbers and will continue to do so with your help. 

We are our own best resource. We can and must leverage our personal and community relationships to support and protect our community, especially when we are under attack.

Unite with us this Pride Season. Give to Equality NC Foundation today and help us build a world where we are both strong and safe. Thank you for always showing up for each other and this community in unprecedented and beautiful ways.