Greater Good Blog

The recent Grantmakers in Health (GIH) Annual Conference on Health Philanthropy provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with thought leaders in the field and think more deeply about a range of topics focused on this year’s theme of bold results through courageous action. Topics ranged from youth mental health to the role of housing in health equity to the critical need for greater public investment in our health.

I was especially interested to attend a session led by Allison Scott, the interim executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, and her colleagues on the topic of safeguarding health care access and health equity for transgender communities. Allison and I have gotten to know each other through Funders for LGBTQ Issues, and I have found her insights to be incredibly valuable as I continually refine my practice as an advisor to philanthropists, as well as deeply inspiring.

As a member of the LGBTQ community and especially during Pride month, I am always interested in lifting up talented leaders and highlighting important work happening in our community. I sat down with Allison to delve more deeply into several topics we explored at the conference in the hopes of helping to educate others—especially those interested in supporting health equity across the board—about why they should consider investing in the LGBTQ community.

The below conversation is lightly edited.

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Joseph: The Campaign for Southern Equality is doing a lot, working across multiple states, and growing. How do you describe the work of the organization to folks first learning about it?

Allison: Great question, Joseph, and it’s one I encounter often as people notice our expanding presence in various spaces. The Campaign for Southern Equality (CSE) is committed to achieving both lived and legal equality for LGBTQ people, because we believe that you can’t have one without the other. In recent years, we have faced a surge of legislative efforts targeting LGBTQ individuals, particularly transgender youth. In response, we’ve shifted the focus of all our programs to address these critical challenges within our community.

Our efforts encompass ensuring access to gender-affirming care, advocating for inclusive school policies, and conducting research to inform and support our initiatives. We are dedicated to meeting this moment with the urgency it requires, working across multiple states to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals and to foster environments where everyone can thrive.

Joseph: Can you talk a little about what LGBTQ people in the South are facing and how that may be unique compared to other parts of the country?

Allison: This community receives less funding in the South than other parts of the country, especially compared to the West Coast. Funders for LGBTQ Issues’ most recent report shows that the funding for LGBTQ orgs in the South has decreased over 10 percent. The South historically has always been underfunded, but we are definitely seeing that play out in real time recently.

Joseph: When you think about your work, specifically aspects focused on health equity for LGBTQ southerners, where do you see opportunities and bright spots?

Allison: I see immense opportunities, particularly in improving access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. One of the bright spots in our efforts is the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project (STYEP), which we launched to provide immediate support and resources to the families of transgender youth facing barriers to health care. This project has been instrumental in addressing the urgent needs of young people who are often marginalized and underserved.

STYEP offers a comprehensive range of services, including patient navigation to connect families with affirming health care providers, emergency financial assistance to help families with travel costs, and frontline grants to gender-affirming organizations and clinics for direct funding of health care services. By focusing on these critical areas, we’ve made a tangible difference in the lives of more than 1,000 families and moved more than $500,000 directly to these families, ensuring that transgender youth receive the care and support they need to thrive.

By prioritizing initiatives like STYEP and working alongside dedicated health care professionals and advocates, we are not only meeting the immediate needs of transgender youth, but also paving the way for a more equitable health care system. These efforts reflect our commitment to ensuring that all LGBTQ individuals, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the care and support they deserve.

Joseph: That sounds so impactful! I know you actively participated in the GIH conference and attended a range of sessions. I’m curious what stuck with you—what did you leave the event thinking about? What learnings do you plan to incorporate into your work moving forward?

Allison: Participating in the conference and attending a range of sessions left me with a deep sense of urgency and a renewed commitment to our mission. I was glad to hear the emphasis on the need for holistic approaches to health equity. In our STYEP program, we frequently advocate for addressing not just health care access, but also the broader social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and economic stability, which disproportionately affect LGBTQ individuals in the South.

One of the most significant takeaways for me was the reiterated importance of intersectionality in our approach to health equity. Often, people suggest that those affected by discriminatory laws and policies should simply move to a more accepting area. However, relocating is rarely straightforward for families, and as we’ve seen, these harmful laws are not confined to one region in our country. Our work has shown that addressing the needs of LGBTQ individuals, especially in the South, requires a comprehensive understanding of how various factors like race, socioeconomic status, and geographic location intersect to impact health outcomes.

Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize intersectional approaches in our programs and advocacy efforts to ensure no one is left behind in the fight for health equity. By integrating these insights into our work, we aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment where all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the care and support they need.

Joseph: For funders interested in supporting the LGBTQ community and promoting health equity more broadly, what should they consider and where should they invest?

Allison: For funders who may be interested in supporting the LGBTQ community and looking at health equity, it is crucial to consider a few key factors to ensure that their investments are both impactful and sustainable. Investing in initiatives that provide comprehensive health care access is essential. This includes not only funding for direct medical services, but also supporting programs that address the broader social determinants of health, such as housing stability, educational opportunities, and economic empowerment. Programs like STYEP illustrate the importance of a holistic approach, offering support that extends beyond health care to include critical resources like financial assistance for travel and patient navigation services. By investing in organizations that are working to change discriminatory laws and policies, funders can help create an environment where LGBTQ individuals have equal access to health care and other essential services.

Joseph: Beyond the Campaign for Southern Equality, are there other organizations working in similar spaces that you would encourage folks to check out?

Allison: TransSOCIAL in Florida is doing truly great things in the Latino and Cuban American LGBTQ community in South Florida. They are consistently putting on community-led events and really making a change in terms of helping people navigate the back-and-forth created by gender-affirming care bans in that state.