To the Editor:
I’m writing to express my gratitude for the June 13 opinion piece, “The Onslaught of Anti-Trans Legislation Demands a Crisis Response From Philanthropy,” by Saida Agostini-Bostic and Elizabeth Barajas-Román.
I’ve worked in nonprofit fundraising for eight years. I’m also a cisgender lesbian whose partner is nonbinary. This article is the first I’ve seen in a mainstream philanthropy publication that adequately expresses the urgent response needed to counter rising anti-trans backlash in this country — something I’ve been deeply concerned about for years.
While so many outlets don’t want to call a spade a spade, I was relieved that Agostini-Bostic and Barajas-Román used the term “anti-transgender authoritarianism.” It’s crucial to use accurate, straightforward language like this to describe what we’re up against.
I also identify as a feminist and was glad to see several paragraphs devoted to how women’s funds and feminism-focused funds can help trans and genderqueer folks. Agostini-Bostic and Barajas-Román ended with this sentence: “Anyone who identifies as a feminist needs to understand that anti-trans laws are an act of hate against all of us, and that we must stand together to fight back.” That is exactly right. I could have cheered right from my office chair.
Thank you again for publishing this piece and thank you to Agostini-Bostic and Barajas-Román for their thoughtful, helpful, and urgent writing. I hope it generates a positive response from readers, and, more importantly, action from the philanthropic field.
Natalie Thielen Helper
Associate Director of Development
THE CITY
The views expressed here are the writer’s own and do not represent those of her organization.
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