Ariana Grande pledges $1.5 million to support trans youth
The 'Break Free' singer's campaign had already raised nearly $500,000 by Friday morning.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Wiki Commons and Instagram/@arianagrande
Ariana Grande has pledged to donate a whopping $1.5 million dollars to various charities supporting trans youth in America.
The ‘thank u, next’ singer posted on her Instagram on Thursday (31 March) – Trans Day of Visibility – to ask for people to donate to her campaign, saying she would match all funds raised to $1.5 million.
Ariana said in her post: “please join me in donating to this fund i’ve created with @pledge.to to support organizations providing direct services and advocating for the rights of trans youth !”
“There are hundreds of disgraceful bills pending in state legislature”
She continues: “right now there are hundreds of disgraceful bills pending in state legislature that target trans youth and aim to curb their rights. this will provide critical funds to organizations advocating for the rights of trans youth. please share & swipe to find out more about where exactly our money is going !!!”
People can text PLEDGE to 707070 or use pledge.to/protect-defend-trans-youth-fund to donate.
In a series of slides, she adds that donations will be split evenly between 19 organisations providing services for trans youth. These include: Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, Equality Florida, Gendernexus, House Of Tulip, and Jasmyn.
As of writing on Friday (1 April) morning, more than $400,000 has been raised.
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It comes as a troubling time for the trans community in the US with the recent signing into law of the ‘Don’t Say Gay, Don’t Say Trans’ bill in Florida, which bans discussions around LGBTQ issues, including gender identity, in schools.
Since that law was passed a number of other states have begun to work on similar legislation.
The bill is one of 204 bills proposed in states across the US, most of which target trans youth, according to the Freedom for All Americans group.
Texas has also become a flashpoint in the fight for trans rights after its governor, Greg Abbott, ordered officials to investigate parents of trans youth for helping them access gender-affirming care. A judge has put a statewide halt on the order for the time being.
This, however, hasn’t stopped it from being replicated in other states as well.
Attitude’s new-look March/April issue is out now.
