BOSTON, Mass. – Nine local nonprofit organizations will participate in Give OUT Day, the very first national initiative to mobilize thousands of donors across the country to give in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer (LGBTQ) nonprofit community on May 9. The day is organized by Bolder Giving, in partnership with the Kevin J. Mossier Foundation and Forward Motion.
“Give OUT Day aims to raise awareness of the need to support LGBTQ nonprofits and elevate the level of LGBTQ philanthropy,” stated Bolder giving Executive Director Jason Franklin.
According to Give OUT Day Coordinator Noris Chayarria, Give OUT Day centers on a new giving design – the power of social media and online giving in a 24-hour donation challenge arena. Massachusetts organizations including MassEquality, Fenway Health, The Theater offensive, The Network/La Red, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Bisexual Resource Center, Family Equality Council, Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC), and North East Transwomen’s Alliance Inc. (NETA), join more than 400 organizations from all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico, all participating in Give OUT Day.
“MassEquality has a history of being at the forefront of the LGBTQ movement, and we are proud to continue that tradition by participating in this innovative national campaign to raise funds for LGBTQ nonprofits,” said MassEquality Executive Director Kara Suffredini. “We are happy to stand with our fellow Massachusetts LGBTQ organizations to help each other advance equality in our state. MassEquality remains dedicated to ensuring that all people are equal, safe and free, from cradle to grave.” [pullquote]“This is a year of great momentum for the LGBT community and each one of us has the power to make it even greater,” said Lee Swislow, executive director of GLAD.[/pullquote]
“Give OUT Day is a great way to support the LGBT organizations in MA you care about, as well as to learn more about LGBT organizations across the country. You can learn about who supports them and why, which may inform your philanthropy as you think about participating in Give OUT Day,” said Timothy Harwood, vice president of development at Fenway Health.
“This is a year of great momentum for the LGBT community and each one of us has the power to make it even greater,” said Lee Swislow, executive director of GLAD. “But we can’t be satisfied until every member of our community can live freely and equally. If you support the LGBT organizations that matter most to you on Give OUT day, we’ll move ever closer to making that dream a reality.”
Abe Rybeck, executive artistic director for The Theater Offensive: OUT in Your Neighborhood, remarked, “Bombs rocked our office and rehearsal space on 4/15, then closed them for nine days as a crime scene. While we’re heartened by the philanthropic response for individuals injured in the attack, Give OUT Day can help us make long-lasting, creative change for folks in our neighborhoods who face life-threatening bigotry and violence every day. It is important for us to continue to work together to build a stronger community and deepen our connection to our neighbors to bring bold, OUT theater.”
“Family Equality Council is proud to participate in Give OUT Day,” said Brent Wright, director of programs. “Our work to connect, support and represent families with LGBT parents and their children, both in Massachusetts and across the country, would not be possible without a strong community of support. We are honored to stand with our partners in Massachusetts to raise awareness and support for all our work.” [pullquote]“Without the generous giving of individuals invested in our mission, HBGC would not be able to provide critical resources and services to Boston’s Latino and Black LGBTQ community.[/pullquote]
“Massachusetts is a leader in LGBTQ advocacy, and donations are a critical tool for getting our work done,” noted Robyn Ochs, a co-founder of the Bisexual Resource Center and a donor to several organizations participating in Give OUT Day I hope that lots of people will step up to the plate and give what they can.”
“The Network/La Red is excited to be part of this grassroots campaign to raise funds for our communities from our communities,” stated Beth Leventhal, executive director of The Network/La Red. “Our work to end LGBQ/T domestic violence does not happen in isolation, and we are proud to partner with organizations around Massachusetts and around the country in this effort to advance all of our work.”
“Without the generous giving of individuals invested in our mission, HBGC would not be able to provide critical resources and services to Boston’s Latino and Black LGBTQ community. We’re excited to participate in Give OUT Day and help increase the visibility and sustainability of so many LGBTQ organizations doing great work nationwide,” noted Corey Yarbrough, executive director and co-founder of HBGC.
Lillith Ann Ponticelli, president of NETA, added, “I think this is an awesome groundbreaking opportunity to network and collaborate with other local organizations to further the cause in the LGBTIQ community.”
To participate in Give OUT Day, submit your donation to one of these nine Massachusetts-based nonprofits on Give OUT Day, visit www.GiveOUTDay.org on May 9 and Tweet with the hashtag #GiveOUT.
About Give OUT Day/Bolder Giving
Bolder Giving is a NYC-based nonprofit dedicated to inspiring people to “Give More. Risk More. Inspire More.” In 2011, it launched an LGBTQ Equality Initiative to specifically lift up and inspire giving to the LGBTQ community and this Give OUT Day is its newest effort to do so. Bolder Giving’s theme of Give More (significantly increasing your giving from income or assets), Risk More (giving more collaboratively, effectively & strategically), and Inspire More (spotlighting stories of notable giving and sparking conversations about giving) serves socially conscious people across the economic spectrum. To learn more, visit www.boldergiving.org.
About MassEquality
MassEquality is the leading statewide grassroots advocacy organization working to ensure that everyone across Massachusetts can thrive from cradle to grave without discrimination and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. MassEquality does this by partnering across issues, identities and communities to build a broad, inclusive and politically powerful movement that changes hearts and minds and achieves policy and electoral victories. For more information, visit www.massequality.org. On Twitter @massequality, on Facebook /massequality.
About Fenway Health
For more than forty years, Fenway Health has been working to make life healthier for the people in our neighborhood, the LGBT community, people living with HIV/AIDS and the broader population. The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education and policy development focusing on national and international health issues. Fenway’s Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center cares for youth and young adults ages 12 to 29 who may not feel comfortable going anywhere else, including those who are LGBT or just figuring things out; homeless or living on the streets; struggling with substance use or abuse; sex workers; or living with HIV/AIDS.
About Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
GLAD is New England’s leading legal organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status, and gender identity and expression.
About The Theater offensive
The Theater Offensive: OUT in Your Neighborhood’s mission is to form and present the diverse realities of queer lives in art so bold it breaks through personal isolation and political orthodoxy to help build an honest, progressive community. The True Colors: OUT Youth Theater troupe provides year-round theater programming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth and their straight allies (LGBTQQA), ages 14 to 22. True Colors is dedicated to presenting an honest portrayal of the youth through group playwriting, production, performance and theater training intensives.
About the Bisexual Resource Center
The Bisexual Resource Center was founded in 1985 by a group of bi activists after a regional conference. First named the East Coast Bisexual Network, it became a 501(c)3 in 1989 and was renamed in the mid-90s. The BRC is the oldest national bi organization in the U.S. that advocates for bisexual visibility and raises awareness about bisexuality throughout the LGBT and straight communities. For more information, visit www.biresource.net.
About Family Equality Council
Family Equality Council connects, supports and represents three million parents who are LGBT and their six million children. We work to change attitudes and policies across the country to ensure all families are respected, loved, and celebrated. For 30 years, our community has stood together to raise our children and raise our voices toward fairness for all. To learn more, please visit www.familyequality.org.
About The Network/La Red
The Network/La Red is a national leader in the work to end domestic violence in LGBQ/T, SM, and Polyamorous communities. Led by survivors, we offer direct services for survivors and their loved ones as well as outreach, education, and community organizing to address partner abuse on a community level.
About Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC)
HBGC is one of few nonprofit organizations in Boston dedicated to the unique and complex needs of the Black, Hispanic and Latin LGBTQ community. Founded in 2009, HBGC works to inspire and empower Latin, Hispanic and Black LGBTQ identified individuals to improve their livelihood through activism, education, community outreach, and counseling.
HBGC es una organización en Boston dedicada a servir y a unir a lacomunidad LGBQ/T Afro Americana y Latina. Trabajamos para inspirar y fortalecer los individuos de lacomunidad, LGBQ/T Afro Americana y Latina, para mejorar sus vidas a través del activismo, educación, y consejería.
About North East Transwomen’s Alliance Inc. (NETA)
NETA is dedicated to the health and well-being of LGBTIQ folks living in New England. We provide a warm friendly and safe place for people to meet and receive support, information, and community connection. Our mission is to support and empower the LGBTIQ community wherever they are in their process of transition and identity. NETA is here to help you identify your priorities and address your concerns. Our door is open to all transgender or gender variant individuals, however they identify, who feel our services would be of benefit.
[From a News Release]
