Mississippi’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization, Vote Your Pride, was founded in 2016 by Noelle Nolan-Rider and her wife Rachel Nolan-Rider after a state law was signed into effect allowing businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ+ customers citing “sincerely held beliefs.” The couple aimed to educate the community about the implications of this law and register voters.
Since then, organizations like Vote Your Pride have intensified their efforts to serve the community. However, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ rights organization recently issued a state of emergency due to laws rolling back transgender people’s rights in states, including Mississippi.
To address these concerns, organizations are providing financial assistance, offering safe spaces, and educating voters about upcoming elections. Mickie Stratos, president of The Spectrum Center, emphasized that lawmakers need to focus on education, healthcare, and addressing prejudices rather than passing discriminatory laws.
The 2023 REAP Act and 2024 SAFER Act have been signed into law, banning minors from undergoing gender transition procedures and requiring individuals to use bathrooms that correspond with their assigned sex at birth. Stratos stated that these laws are not supported by data and pose little risk to public safety.
To combat this, organizations like Vote Your Pride and The Spectrum Center are encouraging people to vote and research who they’re voting for. They also provide essential services such as housing assistance, health care support, and mental health services.
The LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi has been giving grants to smaller LGBTQ+ organizations since 2018. In 2023, the fund dispersed $132,000 in grants among 13 organizations. The organization is currently conducting a needs assessment to better understand the community’s needs and allocate funds accordingly.
Noelle Nolan-Rider expressed gratitude towards the LGBTQ Fund for their support, stating that it was essential in helping her organization continue its efforts without financial strain. As Stratos noted, “If you don’t do politics, politics will do you regardless.”
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/mississippi-lgbtq-organizations-support-community-amid-political-backlash