Gender Justice

06/05/2026

As Give OUT Day — the only national giving day dedicated to raising funds for the LGBTQ+ rights movement — comes to a close, we’re thrilled to announce that we just received a second match of $15,000!

This match is active now and will extend through the entire month of June, to celebrate Pride Month. You can double your gift in support of LGBTQ+ rights by donating today and all month long at genderjustice.us/donate.

Thank you to the generosity of Terry Saario and Lee Lynch for making this match possible. And thank you for fueling this fight and standing with us to advance gender equity & LGBTQ+ rights this month…and all year long!

06/04/2026

Today is Give OUT day, the only national giving day dedicated to raising funds directly for the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Will you join us in the fight and help Gender Justice raise $5,000 today?

Your gift supports:
💚 Our work defending and expanding LGBTQ+ rights in the courts, including at the Minnesota and North Dakota Supreme Courts.
💚 Working within our community and coalitions to defeat authoritarianism.
💚 Community engagement — from Trans Equity Trainings to reproductive freedom policy advocacy — aimed at building a world where everyone’s bodily autonomy is protected and unquestioned.

Thanks to the generosity of Amanda Bartschenfeld, Gender Justice board member, and Megan Pulvermacher, the first $1,000 we receive will be doubled! Visit genderjustice.us/donate to donate today.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Season! We’re excited to see you at these (and more!) Pride celebrations across Minnesota and North Dakota 🌈

And if you want to take your involvement to the next level, you can sign-up for our Pride volunteer team by heading to genderjustice.us/volunteer

05/26/2026

Save the date! We’re thrilled to announce that the fourth annual Gender Justice Brunch will be held on Sunday, November 15 at McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis. Mark your calendar now to join us as we gather to celebrate our wins, reflect on the immense challenges of this moment, and plot a path forward — together.

Sponsorships are now available – contact [email protected] to learn more! And stay tuned, tickets will go on sale later this year.

The Gender Justice Brunch is your time to socialize, network, celebrate and learn about a topic that affects our reproductive rights community.

05/22/2026

Every year, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) hears and decides cases that directly impact our lives — and when our rights are at stake, communities deserve insightful and timely updates.

That’s what we seek to offer through our virtual SCOTUS chat series. When there is a SCOTUS case impacting LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, and gender equity in Minnesota and North Dakota, our legal and policy experts will gather to discuss the case’s immediate effects, future implications, and relevant resources. They’ll also answer questions directly from the community.

Sign-up to be notified about upcoming SCOTUS Chats: genderjustice.us/work/scotus-chats

05/13/2026

One week away! Join us: secure.everyaction.com/8S_hj2UcvEuMj7-HNF9aHw2

Join us Wednesday, May 20 from 12 - 1:15 PM for a virtual, interactive Minnesota Trans Equity Training!

At this training, you will learn how to have effective conversations in support of transgender rights, connect with action opportunities, and meet others who are passionate about the fight for trans equity and empowerment.

This training will be most beneficial for allies, but trans community members are also very welcome to attend and participate.

RSVP: https://secure.everyaction.com/8S_hj2UcvEuMj7-HNF9aHw2

05/11/2026

Ahead of the June 9 North Dakota primary elections, the League of Women Voters of North Dakota has released Vote 411, a nonpartisan online voter guide.

Visit vote411.org/north-dakota to see what offices and candidates will be on your ballot, compare candidate answers on key topics, and make a plan to vote in-person or by-mail!

05/04/2026

We’re excited to welcome Kara Cowell as Gender Justice’s Advocacy and Organizing Manager through November 2026!

Kara comes from a background in reproductive health research, policy, and community organizing. She holds a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from St. Cloud State University.

Kara has worked across the academic and nonprofit sectors in roles spanning advocacy, research, communications, and program development in sexual and reproductive health. She is a national leader in menstrual equity work, contributing to Minnesota statewide policy change, and has developed research-informed resources to support equitable access to menstrual health in schools and communities. Outside of work, Kara enjoys exploring new coffee shops, training for triathlons, and spending time with family and friends.

05/02/2026