Campaign for Southern Equality

08/16/2026

Earlier this year, students at King George middle school were denied the creation of a GSA by their principal and superintendent. Now, the ACLU of Virginia is suing, citing the student’s first amendment rights were violated. Students deserve to have spaces that feel comfortable for them to be themselves and find community. We hope to hear good news from this lawsuit in the coming months. Read more:

The lawsuit seeks $1 in damages and asks the school division to allow the GSA Club to form and operate on the same terms as other student clubs.

08/15/2026

In the most recent round of the Lavender South, we asked q***r Southern creatives to write a letter to their younger selves. This week, we are featuring poet Casey Kendle, whose eight point list of “Things I Would Do If I Saw My Younger Self In My Small Town Supermarket” conveys deep love and care in short order. Read more from the Lavender South: https://southernequality.org/the-lavender-south/

08/14/2026

Join the Mountain West Transforming Care Conference this year in Salt Lake City, Utah for a 2-day hybrid event focused on LGBTQ+ health. Whether you're a seasoned clinician in this field or just starting out, they welcome everyone, regardless of background. Clinicians have the choice of two tracks: mental health/non-prescriber or prescriber.

Visit the website for more information on registration, rates, and parter opportunities: https://medicine.utah.edu/mwtc-conference

08/13/2026

We are proud to promote OUTSOUTH Q***r Film Festival. Returning to the Carolina Theatre of Durham for its 31st year on August 13–16, at OUTSOUTH, q***r storytelling, community, and connection take center stage. Enjoy 14 feature films and 20 shorts programs across genres celebrating a worldwide glimpse of LGBTQ+ life today! See this year's lineup and buy tickets at the Carolina Theatre box office and online at carolinatheatre.org/festival/outsouth/.

08/13/2026

Conservative's latest tactic to curtail trans rights? Ballot initiatives. In 5 states, votes will be held on the human rights of transgender youth-- including their right to access gender-affirming healthcare and participate in sports. In some states, like Washington, Colorado and Arizona, ballot initiatives are an attempt to curtail transgender rights despite similar legislation failing in those states. In others, like Missouri, transgender youth are being used as a wedge to curtail the abortion rights Missourians already voted to maintain. Read more about anti-trans ballot initiatives:

The fights are pitting right-wing billionaires against transgender people and allied organizations.

08/12/2026

After passing a bathroom ban earlier this year, SC public colleges and K-12 schools have been told they just need to send a letter stating they are in compliance with the law annually. Schools are only required to have one gender-neutral bathroom on the entire campus and could lose 25% of their state funding if not in compliance. Read more about the law and how it will be enforced:

The director of the S.C. Commission on Higher Education said he’d confirmed with state lawmakers that the agency’s policy met their expectations.

08/12/2026

🏳️‍⚧️🫂 Today the Trump Administration published a cruel and dangerous final rule that would impact families of trans youth who are insured by Medicaid or CHIP. Please share this post to spread the facts - as it’s likely that the media may overstate the impact of this development.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

1️⃣ The rule is not in effect yet - it’s set to take effect October 13, but a lawsuit is expected, and that could delay things for a while or forever. Providers have no reason to pre-comply with this published rule.

2️⃣ The Trans Youth Emergency Project is here to help. If you experience an interruption in care, please be in touch at www.transyouthemergencyproject.org.

3️⃣ We know this is very hard - the latest very hard thing in a many-year slog of very hard things. We are sending love and support, and we’ll be in touch soon with ways to take action and resources that are available. We will get through this, right by your side.

08/09/2026

We are honored to share new work in The Lavender South from Rose Knoll, a Southern Appalachian writer and poet. Through their essay, Rose mourns the girlhood friendships she missed out on, and tells her younger self “you will find the companionship you so desperately need, and it will come in such beautiful ways that you will never understand.” Read Rose’s full essay and more from the Lavender South at https://southernequality.org/the-lavender-south/ .

08/08/2026

We love LGBTQ+ affirming summer camps-- especially here in the South! In a world where q***r and trans youth face hate and discrimination daily, spaces where they can be safe and just have fun are so important. Read more about what kids at Texas summer camp Color Splash Out experienced there this sumer.

At Color Splash Out, LGBTQ+ kids can play, create and connect without judgment, especially in a state that passed seven anti-trans bills last year

08/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who came to to "The Films and the Feels", our Durham Trans Wellness event was a beautiful gathering of just under 50 community members. It was a lively day of amazing music by DJ Gem, reiki by Tavi, resilience coaching by Zami, oracle card readings by Sierra "The Moth Queen", electronic machine tools by the CSE team, food by Curry Blossom, and all in the historic trancestor home of Pauli Murray. Our event partner, the LGBT Center of Durham, greeted guests first, and later we screened six short films by our event partner Comfrey Films. We were honored to serve the Durham community and we look forward to more healing and collaborating in the future!