Our LGBTQIA2S+ community has risen again and again to meet moments that have challenged our rights, our humanity, and our freedom. Today is no different. 

Ours is a long history of never backing down from a fight for our rights. United in our strength, during the most difficult of times, we have pushed forward and achieved significant progress across the decades. From the early days of the Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis, to the Stonewall Uprising and HIV/AIDS activism, to achieving marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections in the workplace, to the fight for transgender rights, and beyond, we march on.

For every member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and for those who support us: We’ve got this. We’ve got us. No matter who you are, where you live, or the outcome of yesterday’s election, today we are an LGBTQIA2S+ community united. Together, across races, places, genders, and abilities, we have shown up for each other by organizing, mobilizing, and casting our ballots for the freedom to be ourselves. Our work continues.

Election outcomes at national, state, and local levels will impact our health, our safety, and our rights as LGBTQIA2S+ people and families. Despite anti-LGBTQIA2S+ efforts to divide our communities, and particularly severe attacks against transgender people and LGBTQIA2S+ youth, we have succeeded in moving a few steps closer toward equity and justice for our community. In particular, we celebrate the election of the first openly transgender person to U.S. Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride (Del.), as well as out lawmakers U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson (Texas), and State Rep. Wick Thomas (Mo.), and cementing the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in California, Colorado, and Hawaii. 

Across the country, LGBTQIA2S+ organizations and advocates engaged and educated voters, made calls, sent texts, and knocked on doors to ensure every voter had the information necessary to cast a ballot. Every single conversation reflected our commitment to vote for our families, our freedoms, and our futures.

We know that so much more work lies ahead of us. Yet as an LGBTQIA2S+ movement, we will continue to work towards what we always have: a country where all LGBTQIA2S+ people are safe, seen, and accepted for who we truly are, without exception. We are here together, and we will move forward. We’ve got this. We’ve got us.

Shared by:

Advocates for Trans Equality, AIDS United, Arkansas Black Gay Men’s Forum, Basic Rights Oregon, CenterLink: The Community of LGBTQ Centers, Equality Arizona, Equality California, Equality Delaware, Equality Federation, Equality Florida, Equality Illinois, Equality Michigan , Equality New Mexico, Equality Ohio, Equality Texas, Equality Virginia, Fair Wisconsin, Fairness Campaign, Fairness West Virginia, Family Equality, Garden State Equality, Gender Justice, Georgia Equality, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Movement Advancement Project, National LGBTQ Task Force, NBJC, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, One Colorado, OutFront Minnesota, OutNebraska, PFLAG Akron, PFLAG Athens, TN, PFLAG Blairsville , PFLAG Bowie, PFLAG Cape Cod, PFLAG Cape Girardeau , PFLAG Carson Region, PFLAG Charlotte, PFLAG Clayton-Concord, PFLAG Corydon-Leavenworth, PFLAG Danville – San Ramon Valley , PFLAG Danville / Central Susquehanna Valley, PFLAG Denver, PFLAG Fort Collins, PFLAG Franklin, PFLAG Franklin-Hampshire, PFLAG Ft Worth, PFLAG Geneva/Tri-Cities, PFLAG Georgetown , PFLAG Greater Boston, PFLAG Greater Orlando, PFLAG Greater Placer County , PFLAG Greensburg, PFLAG Hampton Roads, PFLAG Hartford , PFLAG Jersey Shore, PFLAG Lamorinda , PFLAG Lower Columbia, PFLAG National, PFLAG Nazareth/Lehigh Valley, PFLAG of Door County, PFLAG Safety Harbor , PFLAG Salisbury Rowan, PFLAG San Diego County, PFLAG Socorro, PFLAG Storm Lake, PFLAG Tulsa, PFLAG Waukesha, Queer Vox, SAGE, Silver State Equality, Tennessee Equality Project, The Trevor Project, Transformation Project, Transgender Law Center , Victory Fund and Institute