51 years ago, the Queer community got their voice. The Stonewall uprising—led by Black trans women—ignited a revolution and sparked change. We celebrate that progress every June with Pride.
Today, the fight for equality rages on—and our voices are stronger than ever. Here’s how we can use them: Below you'll find petitions to sign, organizations to support, voter resources & key dates, accounts to follow, and support hotlines.
Petitions.
Sign The HRC petition to push Congress to pass the Equality Act into law—which would provide consistent and explicit nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people in housing, education, federally funded programs, and more.
Find more LGBTQ+ rights petitions on change.org.
Organizations.
A collection of organizations with causes that are making real change for the Queer community—curated by our instructors and staff.
IN THE US
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. We were proud to support The Trevor Project during our first-ever SoulCup last fall. Selected by HQ employees.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality.
The Okra Project seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever they can reach them. Selected by NYC Senior Instructor Soeuraya & HQ employee Bridget.
Trans Women of Color Collective is building a network of trans, non-binary Black, and people of color who are artists, healers, entrepreneurs, and creators sharing and cultivating sustainable projects. Selected by NYC Instructor Ariel.
GLSEN works to ensure that LGBTQ+ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.
LGBTQ Victory Fund works to build long-term LGBTQ political power by helping elect LGBTQ leaders at every level of government.
True Colors United is a non-profit organization working with homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
Many Voices is a DC-based, non-profit that works with Black churches on LGBTQ+ acceptance. Selected by DC Instructor Anthony.
IN THE UK
akt supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment. Selected by HQ employee Lisa.
Pride in London provides a platform for every part of London’s LGBT+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, questioning, intersex, non-binary, asexual, polysexual, genderqueer, and gender variant people) to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues and campaign for the freedoms that will allow them to live their lives on a genuinely equal footing.
UK Black Pride is a safe space to celebrate diverse sexualities, gender identities, cultures, gender expressions and backgrounds. They foster, represent, and celebrate Black LGBTQ and QTIPOC culture through education, the arts, cultural events, and advocacy.
Switchboard LGBT+ helpline has been answering millions of calls and offering people calm words when they needed them most for over 45 years. They do not receive statutory support, so they rely on community funds and some corporate support to continue to help others.
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbians, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people, working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ communities and to make mental health a community concern. Selected by London Instructor Micky J.
Mermaids empowers trans and gender-diverse children, young people, and their families with its secure online communities, local community groups, helpline services, web resources, events, and residential weekends. Selected by London Instructor Micky J.
IN CANADA
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBT people escape state-sponsored violence.
Egale fights to improve the lives of LGBTQI2S people in Canada and to enhance the global response to LGBTQI2S issues by informing public policy, inspiring cultural change, and promoting human rights and inclusion through research, education, awareness, and legal advocacy.
The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe through storytelling—inspiring the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth that hope is out there, and it will get better. Selected by YKVL Studio Manager Meisha.
QMUNITY, BC's queer, trans, and Two-Spirit Resource Centre provides support to the LGBTQ2S+ community through its youth, seniors, & older adults, counselling, informational & referrals programming and services, and helps connect folks through volunteer opportunities and peer support groups. QMUNITY also provides education services and queer competency trainings to help individuals, families, businesses, schools, and service providers to identify and avoid discriminatory behaviours and to explore the complexity, fluidity, and potential of sexual & gender diversity through publications, multimedia materials, one-on-one consultations, and interactive workshops. Selected by YKVL Studio Manager Lyndsay.
Rainbow Refugee is a Vancouver-based community group that supports people seeking refugee protection in Canada because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression (SOGIE), or HIV status. The organization supports and assists LGBTQ+/HIV+ refugee claimants in BC’s Lower Mainland through facilitated peer support, referrals, system navigation, and accompaniment. They also bring people together to form groups, called Circles of Hope, and mentor them through the process of sponsoring and resettling an LGBTQ+ refugee from life-threatening situations overseas. Selected by YKVL Studio Manager Lyndsay.
Voter resources.
43% of eligible Americans didn’t vote in 2016.* Every single voice counts—here’s how you can make yours heard.
IN THE US
Register to vote here, in 2 minutes or less.
Get your absentee ballot here.
Find your election dates & deadlines by state here.
Find your poll center here.
Before the general election is held nationally on Nov 3, the next key election dates are as follows.
JULY 7: DE Presidential Primary, NJ Presidential & State Primaries
JULY 11: LA Presidential Primary
JULY 14: ME State Primary, AL & TX State Runoffs
AUG 4: AZ, KS, MI, MO, WA State Primaries
AUG 6: TN State Primary
AUG 8: HI State Primary
AUG 11: CT Presidential & State Primary, MN, VT, WI State Primary, GA & SD State Runoffs
AUG 18: AL, FL, WY State Primaries
AUG 25: OK State Runoff
SEP 1: MA State Primary
SEP 8: RI & NH State Primaries
SEP 15: DE State Primary
NOV 3: LA State Primary
IN THE UK & CANADA
Although your next election isn’t coming up this year, you can prepare for it now.
Register to vote here in the UK and here in Canada.
Find out all the ways you can vote in the UK and in Canada.
Inspiring accounts.
We will be adding to this list on an ongoing basis.
@lgbt_history blends striking imagery and meticulously researched narratives to uncover details in Queer history that are too often overlooked.
PROFOUNDations (@profoundations) is a501c3 nonprofit that emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support Underserved LGBTQIA+ Youth of Color—co founded by SF Senior Instructor Kamelle (@kamellemills).
Tanya Compas (@tanyacompas) is an activist, Youth Worker, and Youth Engagement Specialist—recognized in the UK as one of the top 100 most inspiring women.
Support hotlines.
If you or anyone you know feels unsafe or uncomfortable coming out, or has experienced hate, trauma, or violence as a result of it, these hotlines are safe, confidential spaces.
The Trevor Project: 866.488.7386
Crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
The LGBT National Help Center: 888.843.4564
Anonymous. Issues with coming out, gender and/or sexuality identities, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide, and more.
True Colors United: 212.461.4401
Focuses on supporting homeless youth.
Trans Lifeline: 877.565.8860
A peer-support crisis hotline. The only service in the country in which all operators are transgender.
National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs: 212.714.1141
English & Spanish. 24/7 support for LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of hate violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and police violence.
LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800.246.7743
Free & confidential peer support for the LGBTQ and questioning community ages 25 and younger.
DeHQ: LGBTQ Helpline for South Asians: 908.367.3374
100% confidential support for South Asian/Desi lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning individuals, families, and friends.
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*Based on 2016 November General Election Turnout Rates on electproject.org.
SoulCycle on the go
SoulCycle on the go
