Campaign for Southern Equality

09/04/2026

LGBTQ+ adults are facing significant barriers to accessing the healthcare they need. A new study found 6 in 10 LGBTQ+ adults are skipping or delaying care due to cost, provider availability, or other barriers. These disparities are even greater for trans adults.
Access to healthcare shouldn’t depend on who you are, where you live, or if you can afford basic care. These findings underscore the urgent need to address barriers and healthcare disparities for our community. Read more:

LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than other adults to miss healthcare appointments due to cost or other reasons — with a third reporting their health worsened as a result, according to a new survey by health policy research group, KFF. Among the 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults surveyed, those who are transgender...

09/03/2026

Back-to-School Mini Grant applications are now open! Apply today for a $1,000 grant to help support programs and projects for LGBTQ+ young people. Student groups, grassroots groups, community-based organizations, and individuals are eligible to apply. Apply at the link: https://southernequality.org/minigrant/

09/02/2026

Out of 180 grantees of the South Carolina Arts Commission, just two were denied. A board member cited they would not fund “organizations structured around specific sexual orientations, nor should public funds support drag performances.”

The Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus ( ) and the Proud Mary Theatre Company ( ) embody the arts, and should not have to defend their merit just because they are associated with the LGBTQ+ community. You can read more about this decision and support these organizations here:

​To help address the upcoming shortfall, the Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus has set up a GoFundMe.

09/01/2026

Our hearts are in Memphis, where over 100 people have been arrested by ICE. Follow Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition to learn more and get involved in the fight for immigrant rights in Tennessee. As we continue to watch ICE rip apart families and enact violence on communities across the country, we are reminded that the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is inextricably tied to the fight for immigrant’s rights. No one is free until we are all free. Read more:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 100 people in Memphis over the weekend — the largest raid in the city’s history, according to the loc

08/30/2026

Even activists need to take time for themselves. Kayla Gore, the founder of My Sistah’s House and the Tiny House Project in Memphis, shares wise advice for Trans youth. Check out the latest episode and more: https://youtu.be/M1phcU2E6ds?si=fS88MRZ-wUp9hRfJ

08/30/2026

It’s heartbreaking to see Invisible Histories Project leave Alabama due to political hostility, but we’re thrilled to welcome this vital organization to North Carolina. Their work preserving LGBTQ+ history matters deeply and we can’t wait to see what they build in Charlotte! Read more about Invisible Histories:

The non-profit organization, which archives and researches southern LGBTQ+ history, began collecting items in 2018.

08/28/2026

A recent study found that S&P 500 companies that stuck with their DEI policies in the face of political pressure have performed just as well financially as those who rolled policies back. A powerful reminder that doing the right thing and doing good business can go hand in hand. Read more about the study:

Companies that stood by their diversity efforts faced no detectable impact from investors or shoppers, researchers found.

08/27/2026

In North Carolina – it is legal and possible for transgender adults to access gender-affirming care, but we're seeing community reports of new barriers to care for transgender adults in the state, including some clinics preemptively stopping the provision of gender-affirming hormone therapy for adults, despite no law requiring them to do so. The Campaign for Southern Equality believes that healthcare is a human right, and we are providing navigation support for transgender adults in North Carolina who have experienced an interruption in care. Fill out the form on our website, and we’ll connect you with an Access Navigator who can help you understand your options to continue care. https://southernequality.org/transinthesouthaccessproject-nc/

08/27/2026

In Tennessee – it is legal and possible for transgender adults to access gender-affirming care, but at the same time, healthcare access for transgender people is being attacked on multiple levels. In 2026 we’re seeing new barriers to care for transgender adults – including some clinics preemptively stopping the provision of gender-affirming hormone therapy for adults, despite no law requiring them to do so. The Campaign for Southern Equality believes that healthcare is a human right, and we are providing navigation support for transgender adults in Tennessee who have experienced an interruption in care. Fill out the form on our website, and we’ll connect you with an Access Navigator who can help you understand your options to continue care: https://southernequality.org/transinthesouthaccessproject-tn/

08/27/2026

Thank you, New Mexico, for protecting Medicaid coverage of youth gender-affirming care! After the announcement of a new rule from the Trump Administration blocking Medicaid insurance coverage of gender-affirming care for youth, states like new Mexico are stepping up and announcing that they will utilize state funds so that gender-affirming care can continue to be covered for youth in their state. Other states that have taken similar measures include Massachusetts and California. Read more:

Trump administration finalized rule to end Medicaid support for care including hormones and speech therapy