Equality Texas & Equality Texas Foundation PO Box 2340 | Austin, TX 78768 | www.EqualityTexas.org
As you read this, the 2021 session of the Texas Legislature has just closed the worst year for LGBTQ+ state legislative attacks — with 36 anti-LGBTQ+ bill filed in Texas. The biennial struggle against discriminatory and cruel bills is exhausting for all LGBTQIA+ and allies who continue to show up, speak out, testify and mobilize against them. Wouldn’t it be nice to never go through that again? That’s why QWELL invited us to write to you. The best time to influence the Texas lege is before the session begins. What you do in the next 18 months will be crucial to creating the world we want to see — a Texas that honors the innate worth of LGBTQ+ people with full-lived equality in the hearts and minds of our fellow Texans and in all areas of the law. When the lege is in session, the Texans fighting for you are in crisis-mode — running between hearings, offering testimony, organizing events on the fly, and trying to expand lawmakers’ understanding of LGTQIA+ issues. Right now, we have an 18 month window during which we need you to prepare to champion LGBTQ+ issues at the Capitol. You can: · · · ·
Educate yourself on the greatest threats to LGBTQ+ equality; Have conversations with your neighbors; Increase the number of vocal allies; and, Share your story with legislators so they have visible proof that Texans support LGBTQIA+ rights.
“Visibility is Power,” like it says on the cover. If you have a rainbow or trans flag, fly it! But make sure you’re not the only one; convince your neighbors and businesses to fly flags, too. In Greater Austin, more than anywhere else in the State, Texas Legislators should see reflected what we all know -- that the majority of Texans believe that discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is wrong. Displaying a pride flag is one indication of our support for LGBTQ+ people. Whether you live in Austin or elsewhere, all Texans deserve to have a voice at the Legislature, and Equality Texas is dedicated to guiding and ensuring that opportunity. Whether you volunteer with Equality Texas or contact your legislator via email or phone, your voice and your concerns should be heard. As the largest statewide organization fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in Texas, Equality Texas is your resource for issue-based education, action alerts, and how to make your voice heard. Ready to get started? Sign up as an Equality Texan at equalitytexas.org or just scan the QR code below. 18 months to get ready. Let’s go. Sincerely, Ricardo Martinez Chief Executive Officer
SPONSORS
Learn about our flag sponsors! Point your smartphone camera at this image and click the link that appears.
Peace Lutheran Church @austinoutpost
YOUR PRIDE 2021 PHILANTHROPISTS SUZANNE DANIELS | OLIVIA COFFEY | KRISTEN WELSH | SARA MICHEALENE BALL DAVID NEGRETE | MIKE KNAPP | SYDNEY DANIELS | GREGORY CIOTTI ANN HUDSPETH | SAUL GONZALEZ | ERIC SHULTZ | JENNIFER TRIMBLE AUSTIN NEAL | LYNN TRUMBUL | SUZANNA PITTMAN | MICHAEL TROPP MISTY HILLIN | NANCY MOSSMAN | JIM CHAPPELOW | KELLY STACY ELLIE KENNON | DUSTIN YOUNSE | COTY DELACRETAZ | LAURIE DORAN KELLY BOYCE | PIXERELLI SUNSHINE FUHRY | JONATHAN WALTHALL TINA VAN WINKLE | PHYLLIS GESCH | CARISSA McCLINTOCK | AIDEN McMULLEN BETHANY DIETRICH | RACHEL BUTLER | ANDREW DENMAN-TIDLINE TAMMY FOTINOS | KARISSA ROKOVICH | ERIC CADOUL | DENISE SHEEHAN CRISTINA MASTERS | JENNIFER MURPHY | DAN MANCO | KATHY WATSON TYLER HANDCOCK | JO ECKLER | MICHAEL SHANNON | EVER HAYWARD MARTHA CHANG | AMY SAUNDERS | TINA TEICH | SKYE BOND | MARA NELSON RACHEL MATTHEWS | BEARS REBECCA FONTE | ASHLEY IBSEN SAMANTHA HOOTEN | LAURA HELLINGER | TYLER HANDCOCK | KAREN LEWIS ALEX MASTERS-GOESSLING | BECCA BRINK | MARGARET STARK DALISA GORTHEY | LISA HILDEBRAND | CAITLIN MANGELS | CHARLIE DEY ELIZABETH CHEPUL | KRISTY TARSHA | DAVID JIMENEZ | BECCA SMITH JENN DANIEL | JORDAN NICQUETTE | CHUCK LESNIAK | SARAH OSMER ALICE POWELL | CURT SCHWAKE | DREW CASTILLO | EVA MONTES MELISSA JONES | KEVIN ROBBINS | SHANNON BALDWIN | ERIN SCHRAN MEREDITH BENNETT | HEATHER COMPTON | PAUL KRETCHMER MARIA FOSSBAKK | TACEY CHOLICK | ROSS IVERSEN | SIERRA VERNON LISA PILGRIM | LAURA BUCARO | KATHLEEN COYNE | COURTNEY GIVENS SIERRA BRAUNER | ANGELA GALLANT | EMMETT SCHELLING CANDACE COLLINS | AMY HARRISON | JOYCE GARRISON | CRISTINA DENZ CHRISTINE JULIEN | STACIA MILLER | AMBYR LOSTRACCO | VIRGINIA MILLER DAWN WARREN | MICHAELA SCHELD | CHRISTIAN KOLQUIS | FIONA THOMAS LESLIE MCREYNOLDS | SUZANNE POLK | HALEY LYNN JENKINS PATRICK DOLAN | BRIELLE EPSTEIN | ELIZABETH BALLEW | BARBARA COHEN MELANIE SCHAFFRATH | ANNE DUHON | ALIX SCARBOROUGH @austinoutpost
PETER LANGLOIS | ALEXANDER CRANK | SCOTT BOND | RACHELLE TERRACINA REMY SCOTT | JACKIE MULLEN | KATHLEEN PAINTER | BARB CAMPBELL KELLIE SMITH | KATHERINE FAN | SAM ARMSTRONG | BRYAN LENOIR KRISTEN VAN HOOSIERV | MARVIN COLE-CHANEY | WESLEY DECONTIE EMILY BICKLE | ANNE MARIE GASSER | RYAN SMITH | ANDRA BAILARD BETH THOMAS | JENNIFER CANZANO | LAURA LEE DAIGLE | CAITLIN ABLES SANDRA GREEN | CRAIG WHISENHUNT | PETE MEEKER | JEREMY BADEL ALISON BINFORD | ETHAN NGAI | JENNIFER POTTER | CANDICE PARKER CASEY HUNT | ANASTASIA BARBER | CHRISTINA SCHNEIDER | ELIZABETH NOVAK REBECCA MILLS | DANIEL FUNDERBURKE | TRACY ALLEN | BEAU SCHMITZ CHASE MARTIN | VALERIE MALCOMB | DIANE GARCIA | KAREN HARRIS KAREN HARRIS | SHAWN FAHERTY | JORDAN ABLES | NORA REDFERN JASON HAYS | RACHEL TREMBLEY | STEPHANIE PINA | DAVID SELLERS STACY WEIDMANN | JAMES WELLWARTH | ZEANNE HALLBACK | MALIA WHITE LINDSAY KNIGHT | JENNIE KNIGHT | VICKI PADILLA | KATHRYN HOWELL MARTHA BEARD-DUNCAN | KASEY JACKSON | AUSTIN ATHERTON | KACI BLANEY CHRISTINE NEWMAN | TAYLOR RALEY | DEBB DEITCH | CRISTEL McCARTHY SARAH EVASCU | JAMI LYNN BULA | DAZE CONNOR | JENNA TONDRE ANGELA HERNANDEZ | TAYLOR RUSSELL | DANA MAHONEY | NATALIE CLARK JOSH SALLERSON | RYAN KELLY | SEAN DUNBAR | LAURA BUCARO MARY HELEN McNALLY | HILARY PITTMAN | TANNER SCHULTZ JENNA CAMPBELL | LINZY FOSTER | CATHRYN CALDERON EMORY KELSIE BURNETT | JENNIFER REBIDEAUX | TAYLOR JONES | AMANDA MILLS JYLLIAN MITCHELL | DANA MANICKAVASAGAM | ERIKA EDWARDS DAN NGUYEN | SHELLY SUMMERS | KASS GAMBELIN | LINDA HARROLD HOLLI LOWE | TYLER LEWIS | CANDACE LANDBERG | JORDAN BECK KATHY THOMAS | BOBBY DIXON | HEATHER KIMBRO | DERICK HARDY MELISSA DAGAR | MARY EVERETT | ELICIANA ESTRELLA | CHRIS HOLDEN LESLIE ROCHA | MEGAN LYON | RAUL LARIOS | CHARLES ANDERSON KAREN LEBLANC | JESSICA GARCIA | CINDY HAWS | CRYSTAL MAHER JESSI COOK | CHRISTOPHER RANSOHOFF | JUSTIN PLANT | COLTON COINER BROOKE HUNTLEY | EMILY SHAPIRO | ALEJANDRA GONZALEZ | SHILO WIRT NELSON HERNANDEZ | AMY RATTANANINAD | JACQUELINE VACA-ARAUJO CORRINE JARNAGIN | CARLY FISCHER | CLIFFORD LAYNE | DANIEL GIBSON EMILY HONNINGSVAAG | RICHARD MARTINEZ @austinoutpost
TAKE OUR ANNUAL ANONYMOUS
LGBTQIA+ WELLBEING SURVEY OF GREATER AUSTIN
Visit QWELLBEING.ORG to tell us about your LGBTQIA+ quality of life:
I
PHYSICAL HEALTH Local LGBTQIA+ people say
their physical health is their #1 concern.* They need convenient, affordable access to competent healthcare providers, nutrition and fitness support, and the tools to live long, healthy lives in Austin.
2
MENTAL HEALTH Mental health is the cornerstone
3
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS LGBTQIA+ people’s bonds with
4
LIVING ENVIRONMENT The place around
5
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Skills training
6
ECONOMIC SITUATION Austin’s vibrant economy
of good quality of life. When LGBTQIA+ individuals, families, and communities have tools to help them understand and manage their thoughts and feelings, our people flourish.
family, partners, friends, and people around us are a huge part of what makes us feel good or bad about life. Research proves that human beings thrive in a intergenerational, diverse, positive social structure.
you matters. Your physical environment, natural or human made, impacts your wellbeing. Housing affordability, mobility, and the political landscape also affect your health. Austinites deserve healthy, safe places to live as openly LGBTQIA+ people of any age.
and lifelong learning, in and out of an LGBTQIA-competent classroom, promote mental development, personal growth, and challenging experiences. Some learning opportunities – for example, sexual health education – need to be available for all LGBTQIA+ adults as well as youth.
should include LGBTQIA-welcoming job training, employment, and chances for advancement, to create an environment where all LGBTQIA+ people can afford to make ends meet and may achieve all they hope to accomplish.
3,500 local LGBTQIA+ people have participated since QWELL launched our annual survey in 2018. This year, download the anonymous survey app so you don’t have to answer every question every time!
QWELLBEING.ORG
Greater Austin has dozens of affirming faith communities eager to welcome LGBTQIA+ people. To find them, point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link.
We need your help to make Greater Austin the best place in the world for LGBTQIA+ people to live, love, learn, work and play.
Visit AustinOutpost.org/donate to become a monthly donor. DONATE if you want to easily find vetted LGBTQIA+ resources using a smartphone app.
DONATE if you want safe, sober, welcome community spaces that are convenient for you.
DONATE if you want everyone to have access to affirming, competent physical and mental healthcare.
DONATE if you want every LGBTQIA+ person to have a loving chosen family.
DONATE if you want to build a loving LGBTQIA+ community without racism or misogyny.
We can’t do it without YOU!
Commit to a donation of $10 or more a month and receive a $100 gift certificate from Diamonds Direct!
Greater Austin has a large, vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander population. To find resources for local LGBTQIA+ Asians and Pacific Islanders, point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link. @austinoutpost
LGBTQIA+ youth are our future. To find resources for Greater Austin’s LGBTQIA+ youth, point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link.
Black LGBTQIA+ Lives Matter. To find local resources for Black LGBTQIA+ residents, point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link.
Greater Austin’s LGBTQIA+ Latinx residents are an integral part of our community. Find local resources by pointing your smartphone camera at this QR code and then clicking the link.
Take care of your sexual wellness by getting tested or learning to be a better lover using these resources. Just point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link.
MICAH BAZANT + AMPLIFIER.ORG
Greater Austin is a better place with Transgender folks. Find local trans resources by pointing your smartphone camera at this QR code and then clicking the link.
Painting of Harry Hay by Charles Hefling, courtesy of the artist and Gay & Lesbian Review Magazine.
Our local population of LGBTQIA+ older adults is expected to double by 2030. To find or support resources for LGBTQIA+ elders, point your smartphone camera at this QR code and then click the link. @austinoutpost