NEWS & VIEWS
City for LGBT+ raises over £125,000!
Date
We are delighted to report that the eighth edition of City for LGBT+, held on 14 October at Macquarie, raised over £125,000 for three outstanding LGBTQI organisations working in Malaysia, the UK and the Caribbean.
TFN is proud to work in partnership with GiveOut and Macquarie to deliver this annual event, bringing together supporters from across the City to hear directly from inspiring activists working to defend LGBTQI rights and support communities facing discrimination.
Built around TFN's live crowdfunding model, the event was also an exuberant expression of solidarity and community at a time when minority rights are increasingly under threat around the world.
On the night we heard powerful pitches from the following organisations:
Legal Dignity (Malaysia) - £43,000+ raised
Led by Andi Suraidah, Legal Dignity is a feminist legal organisation providing legal assistance and building a network of lawyers to defend LGBTQI rights in Malaysia, where same-sex sexual activity can carry penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment. The funding will help strengthen legal support for people facing arrest, violence and discrimination.
Consortium (UK) - £41,000+ raised
Represented by Heather Paterson, Consortium is the UK's national umbrella body for LGBTQI organisations, supporting more than 700 groups across the country. 70% of its members have annual incomes below £20,000, making its work securing funding, strengthening organisations and advocating for the sector especially important. The funds raised will help establish a new LGBT+ Campaigning Fund.
United Caribbean Trans Network - £40,000+ raised
Alexus D'Marco spoke about UCTRANS' work connecting trans activists across 10 Caribbean countries and campaigning for legal recognition, access to healthcare and freedom from discrimination. The funding will support advocacy, research into the impact of climate change on trans communities, and practical assistance for those affected by natural disasters. As Alexus explained, people already facing discrimination and disadvantage are often disproportionately affected by hurricanes and other extreme weather events, to which the Caribbean is increasingly vulnerable.
Since its launch in 2019, City for LGBT+ has raised an extraordinary £658,000 for 23 LGBTQI organisations, demonstrating what can be achieved when communities and allies come together in solidarity. This is in no small part thanks to generous match funding provided by the Macquarie Foundation.
Our enormous thanks to everyone who contributed, to our partners GiveOut and Consortium, to our generous hosts Macquarie, and to headline sponsor A&O Shearman for helping make the evening such a success! For information about next year's event email info@giveout.org
