For this Pride month, my reading has been centered on the role that philanthropies are playing in this civil rights movement, the experience of the most vulnerable populations within the LGBTQ community, and, of course, some general reading for my own benefit. I hope you enjoy these selections—and I invite you to share writings, movies, podcasts, or other resources that elevate aspects of the LGBTQ experience for you.

Philanthropy’s role in LGBTQ advocacy

“History of Philanthropy Case Study: The Campaign for Marriage Equality.” I had always expected that same-sex marriage would be adopted on a state-by-state basis at least for a good chunk of my lifetime. You can then imagine the pleasant surprise that came in the form of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. In this analysis, the Open Philanthropy Project finds that the philanthropic sector played a significant role in realizing this civil rights milestone.

“Millions in Christian-right dark money funding counterattack on LGBTQ+ equality.” The National Christian Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the United States and distributed more than $56 million to anti-LGBTQ and anti-Muslim groups between 2015 and 2017. Structured as a donor-advised fund, it’s not always easy to link the third-party organizations contributing the cash and the causes that money ultimately supports.

“This Pride Month, Let’s Talk About Trans Rights.” “While the world has been distracted and reeling from the crisis of Covid-19, more anti-trans bills have been introduced to block safe medical transitions, student athlete participation, and the basic needs of trans individuals, focusing on state-level law when federal backing couldn’t be depended on,” Sae Allan Darling, administrative assistant of programming and external relations at the Center for Effective Philanthropy. But in light of the large-scale assault on transgender rights, Sae sees an opportunity for philanthropy to step in and fight for social justice.

Read the full article about the LGBTQ rights movement by Jesse Rhodes at PEAK Grantmaking.