**THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED TO UPDATE FUNDRAISING PROGRESS**
With the High Court of Australia clearing the way for the Marriage Equality Postal Survey to go ahead, we can expect divisive campaigning from the ‘No’ side to ratchet up in the coming weeks, with LGBTQI+ youth & families firmly in their sights.
The Australian Christian Lobby-led opposition has very clearly signaled that they don’t wish to have this debate on the actual question of two consenting adults being allowed to wed. Instead, they are keen to make this a vitriolic, gloves-off referendum on the children of such couples and on young people questioning their gender and sexuality.
While we can’t do anything to stop this debate, we can support organisations working at the frontlines with LGBTQI+ kids and families during the next few months.
With the help of three generous benefactors agreeing to match donations, we have so far raised an incredible $45,000 for these groups — well and truly exceeding our target, and an inspiring show of love amid so much invective and hate.
Though the gift-matching is now finished, the #MarriageEquality campaign is long from over, and there’s a steep few months ahead so please – DIG DEEP! We’ll be collating donations right up until the survey is finished.
you guys rock!!! #YesWithLove ❤️❤️❤️❤️???????????? https://t.co/g7f06iC6w6
— Pinnacle Foundation (@PinnacleFound) September 9, 2017
Overwhelmed with gratitude and all the feels thanks @coopesdetat @swearyanthony #YesWithLove #LoveBR
— Love Black Rainbow (@BlkRnBow) September 9, 2017
That is amazing! ??
— Wear it Purple (@WearitPurple) September 9, 2017
Amazing, thank you!! pic.twitter.com/d1dWwNZorB
— ACON (@ACONHEALTH) September 9, 2017
If you’re feeling down, go check out #yeswithlove. Donations to queer organisations being matched! https://t.co/UjQy3pfOxT
— NSW GLRL (@NSWGLRL) September 8, 2017
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just some of the major groups working at the coalface with LGBTQI kids and families.
Clicking through will take you to their donations page. Once you have made a contribution let us know by tweeting a receipt screenshot to the hashtag #YesWithLove or emailing us your receipt.
Please – give what you can, share this post, and show some love to these champions for equality, acceptance and love.
(Totals below are as at 10am, Monday September 11, 2017)
Minus18 – Australia’s largest youth-led organisation for LGBT youth ($10,000 raised so far)
Twenty10 – Social support, counselling, housing, mental health and social support for young LGBTQIA+ people ($7,500 raised so far)
Switchboard – Community-based not-for-profit organisation providing a peer-based volunteer-run support service for LGBTQI+ people, their family & friends & allies ($1,650 raised so far)
Open Doors – Advocacy and support services for LGBTQI young people aged 12-24 & their families living in SE Queensland ($4,000 raised so far)
Camp Out 2017 – A camp for LGBTQI and/or gender diverse, same-sex attracted curious and questioning teens aged 13-17 ($2,300 raised so far)
Black Rainbow – supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lesbian, gay, bisexual, sistergirl & brotherboy and queer community ($5,000 raised so far)
Wear It Purple – Fostering safe, supportive and accepting environments for rainbow young people ($845 raised so far)
PFLAG – Keeping families together through acceptance and greater knowledge ($420 raised so far)
Pinnacle Foundation – Provides scholarships to marginalised or disadvantaged LGBTQI students ($1,050 raised so far)
Rainbow Families – Building a community which fosters resilience by connecting, supporting and empowering LGBTQI families ($3,750 raised so far)
The Gender Centre (Sydney) – Developing & providing services and activities which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices ($1,000 raised so far)
Aurora Group – Charity raising funds for grants to gay, lesbian and transgender groups ($1,000 raised so far)
QLife (an initiative of the LGBTI Health Alliance) – National telephone and web counselling service for LGBTI people, their family and friends ($2,400 raised so far)
Living Proud WA – providing support, information and resources to the Western Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans* and intersex community for almost 40 years ($600 raised so far)
ACON – Here for HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health ($2,650 raised so far)
VAC – Working with and for LGBTI communities and people living with or affected by HIV ($200 raised so far)
NSW GLRL – Lobbying politicians, government, policymakers and the media to redress discrimination against the LGBTI community and to represent it at all levels ($500 raised so far)
VGLRL – Working with and for the LGBTQI community to end discrimination and achieve equality and social justice
Diverse Voices – A Queensland-based NFP with a focus on the wellbeing of the diverse voices that make up our community through peer to peer telephone and internet counselling
Organisation Intersex International Australia – independent support, education and policy development organisation, by and for people with intersex variations or traits ($200 raised so far)
Amy You are doing us all proud right now, both in the community and as a humann being, in a time where we need more humanity like this and less of others types, your efforts and those of others like You give us all hope.
THANK YOU.
The email link in the body of the text didn’t work for me; it’s yeswithlove2017@gmail.com
Hi Fred, sorry the email didn’t work for you. We haven’t yet had any other problems but just in case others do experience the same thanks for letting us know