NEW YORK (AP) – Lambda Legal, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, has successfully raised $285 million. This funding comes in response to ongoing attacks on the rights of gay, intersex, and transgender individuals.
Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal, announced the fundraising success on Thursday, revealing that the organization has exceeded its initial goal of $105 million.
“This demonstrates the strength of the LGBTQ+ community,” Jennings said.
Nonprofits previously filed a lawsuit to overturn the ban on gay marriage in 2015, and in 2003, they successfully repealed a law that criminalized gender expression among gay adults. The fundraising campaign was quietly initiated in 2022 in response to a surge of state legislative bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights.
Some of these proposed laws aim to restrict discussions on sexuality and gender in schools, remove books featuring LGBTQ+ characters from library collections, ban public drag shows, and limit students’ use of their preferred pronouns, while also curtailing access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
During President Donald Trump’s administration, there was a concentrated effort to target transgender individuals, including an order for them to be removed from the military and efforts to eliminate fair housing protections for this community, along with denying the existence of trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals through presidential directives recognizing only two genders.
Additionally, Trump attempted to cut federal funding for gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors.
Lambda Legal has launched multiple legal challenges against the administration, including attempts to reverse the ban on transgender military service and restrictions on care for transgender youth.
A Substantial Change in Resources
Lambda Legal is a significant nonprofit that has invested over $20 million annually since 2021 and reported substantial assets in 2023, based on tax returns.
This campaign will greatly enhance available resources.
Jennings noted that since its establishment in 1973, Lambda Legal has received just three donations exceeding $1 million. In this campaign, 14 individuals, two foundations, and one law firm contributed at least $1 million, collectively amounting to tens of millions.
“This campaign became a reality because dedicated individuals in the community stepped up,” he stated. “It wasn’t a corporation or foundation.”
Among the noteworthy donors is billionaire author Mackenzie Scott, who made significant contributions in 2020 and 2021. The largest single donation of $25 million came from the Kathryn G. Graham Trust, which honors early Lambda Legal board member Kathryn G. Graham.
About $80 million of these funds will be allocated over the next five years, while the remaining $205 million has been pledged by estate donors, often referred to as planned gifts.
Lambda Legal plans to utilize these funds to hire additional attorneys, coordinate pro bono collaborations with major law firms, and establish new mechanisms for public education on LGBTQ+ rights.
“While we may not win every battle, we will fight every battle, and we are committed to this campaign until we achieve victory,” Jennings expressed.
This new influx of funding still falls short of Lambda Legal’s resources compared to conservative nonprofits that utilize litigation to advance public policy objectives. For instance, the Alliance Defending Freedom raised over $100 million in both 2022 and 2023, as indicated in their tax returns. This organization advocates for female athletes challenging transgender women and girls’ participation in sports and promotes the prohibition of conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth.
A Familiar Threat, Yet a New Chapter
The acceptance and visibility of gay, transgender, intersex, and non-binary individuals have undergone significant evolution within the lifespan of many Americans.
Illinois became the first state to decriminalize homosexuality in 1961. The American Psychiatry Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1972. However, ongoing efforts persist to achieve equal treatment across various social domains and protect against discrimination.
Two landmark Supreme Court rulings in the past 25 years mirror the swift shift in public attitudes favoring LGBTQ+ rights. The first in 2003 abolished the sodomy laws criminalizing gay relationships, followed by the 2015 decision legalizing gay marriage.
Mark Stein, a historian and professor at San Francisco State University, credits these victories to the mobilization of LGBTQ+ movements, strategic legal actions, and grassroots protests.
He noted that over the decades, funding for the movement has transformed significantly. In the 1950s and 1960s, support came mainly from within the community.
“We published magazines and newsletters, relied on subscribers and members who paid dues,” Stein explained, while also acknowledging support from some affluent patrons. By the 1980s, the movement began targeting wealthy donors for LGBTQ+ causes.
“There was a notable shift during that period as fundraising efforts transitioned closer to community involvement,” Stein highlighted, “signifying a move from grassroots fundraising methodologies to more corporate and commercial approaches.”
Today, numerous pride events across cities like San Francisco and New York City are witnessing budget shortfalls due to a withdrawal of corporate sponsorships. Some experts attribute this retreat from brand activism, which peaked between 2016 and 2022, to changes in the cultural landscape and a rise in consumers who prefer not to engage businesses in social issues.
Jennings observed the recent trend of corporate funding withdrawal from LGBTQ+ initiatives, praising individual donors for Lambda Legal’s recent fundraising achievements.
“Right now, we are noticing a significant disconnect in American corporate support. Many brands that previously showcased rainbow logos are no longer contributing monetarily,” Jennings lamented. “Lambda turned to the community, and fortunately, the community responded. Sadly, many organizations that relied on corporate America have found their support diminished.”
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Source: apnews.com