Contact:  Angela Hale, 512-289-2995 angela.hale@equalitytexas.org

Equality Texas and Texas Pride Impact Fund Announce Launch of Queer Texas Crisis Fund

Austin, Texas- June 29, 2020 – Today, Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans and Texas Pride Impact Funds, a community foundation created to propel the LGBTQ+ movement in Texas by supporting nonprofits that help thousands of our citizens across the state every day announce the launch of the Queer Texas Crisis Fund (QTCF). The Queer Texas Crisis Fund will support organizations that are providing emergency relief to LGBTQ+ communities as a response to COVID-19 and/or are leading critical social justice work at the intersections of race and LGBTQ+ identities.

“Our goal is to raise at least $100,000 by August 31, 2020 to support organizations across Texas. Equality Texas recognizes that the existence of a thriving landscape of local/regional nonprofits that provide critical direct services to LGBTQ+ communities across Texas is necessary for the success of the LGBTQ+ movement in Texas. We need organizations to continue to survive, thrive and maintain their critical work. Their presence adds to an environment that will make change possible and sustainable. We have a platform to use to the benefit of our statewide community, and we will,” said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas.

The pandemic and the continued fight for civil rights and racial justice has created an opportunity for larger organizations to step up and support smaller organizations providing direct service to LGBTQ+ people who are feeling the brunt of economic strife as a result of the economy and those who continue to experience pervasive indignities (lack of medical care, food insecurity, violence at the hands of law enforcement) due to systemic racism.

“We’re overjoyed to partner with Equality Texas on “Queer Texas Crisis Fund.” The LGBTQ+ communities across Texas are experiencing hunger, homelessness, unemployment, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other challenges brought on and magnified, by the pandemic. Texas Pride Impact Funds is proud to bring to the equation grantmaking processes for our ever-growing network of organizations from around our state that deliver vital work in urban centers and rural counties. We are excited to be part of an impassioned campaign that will result in another round of crisis funding to LGBTQ+ organizations around our state and honored to be working with the Equality Texas team,” said Ron Guillard, Texas Pride Impact Funds Board President.

The campaign to raise funds will go through August 31^st. To apply, 501c3 non-profit organizations will need to complete a brief survey expected to be released mid-July. Awards will be announced and distributed in early September.

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Equality Texas is the largest statewide organization working to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration. The Equality Texas Foundation works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Texans through education, community organizing, and collaboration.

Texas Pride Impact Funds exists to propel the LGBTQ+ movement in Texas by supporting nonprofits that help thousands of our citizens across the state every day. Our work strengthens community organizations and their leaders, mobilizes donors and funders, inspires giving, and actively secures our LGBTQ+ community’s future for generations to come.