Happy Pride!

Below you’ll find a short list of organizations doing wonderful work to support queer community members and efforts. Keep reading to find ways you can support this important work all year round.

QUEERSPACE: Launched in April 2021, QUEERSPACE collective is the first mentorship program created specifically for LGBTQ+ youth in Minnesota. QUEERSPACE collective creates space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.

Outfront Minnesota: Outfront Minnesota is on a mission to build power within Minnesota’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and address inequities through intersectional organizing, advocacy, education, and direct support services. OutFront Minnesota was founded in 1987 to fight for LGBTQ+ justice and equity. Most recently, in 2023, Outfront Minnesota helped support the passing of both the Conversion Therapy Ban and the Trans Refuge Bill in Minnesota. The fight is not over, however, and supporters are needed more than ever. 

The Okra Project: The Okra Project is a mutual aid collective that champions food and housing security, safe transportation, and mental health support for Black Trans people across the United States. Without social safety nets, mutual aid becomes critical and essential for many in the community.  

Transinclusive:  Founded in 2017, Transinclusive Group advocates to protect and defend equality for all transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals in South Florida by building trust and relationships with community providers to end discrimination, stigma, and racial disparities to address social determinants of health. They work to ensure that everyone has equitable access to essential services, support, and resources. 

The Marsha P. Johnson Institute: The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) was founded in direct response to the nationwide—and vastly underreported—epidemic of murders of Black Trans women. The violent and preventable nature of these deaths directly connects to the exclusion of Black Trans people from social justice issues; namely racial, gender, and reproductive justice, as well as gun violence reform. MPJI’s work involves advocating, organizing, offering fellowship opportunities, creating coalitions, establishing a trans-centered membership platform, and executing digital and on-the-ground campaigns.

Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community. Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community support and resources needed to survive and thrive. They envision a world where trans people have the connection, economic security, and care, everyone, needs and deserves – free of prisons and police.  

So, how can you get involved? We as a company are donating to each organization listed above this month. You can also:

1. Advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights (ACLU’s Protect Trans Care Now website is a great place to start)

2. Educate yourself and others about LGBTQIA+ issues. Identify active anti-LGBTQIA+ bills in congress and contact your state representatives and urge them to take action. 

3. Volunteer your time, resources, and/or donate financially to local organizations and mutual aid funds that support queer communities all year round.

At M&P we unequivocally support queer futures and those fighting for the freedom to be.

Happy Pride!