My name is Ian Johnson (he/him), Senior Director of Development at The Center, and I’m inviting you to join us in fighting for every LGBTQ+ generation as we recognize World AIDS Day on December 1 and Giving Tuesday on December 2. Recently, the Trump administration banned federal recognition of World AIDS Day and continues to threaten funding to HIV prevention programs. But we refuse to erase today’s significance or give up the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Together, these special days create a moment to honor our community’s history and take generous action to protect our progress, ensuring a future where every LGBTQ+ person can thrive.
From now until Giving Tuesday, every gift will be matched, thanks to a generous Challenge Match from RICH’s!
As we take this time to reflect, I’m reminded of how deeply the fight against HIV and AIDS has shaped the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The AIDS epidemic forced our community to unite in courage, compassion, and defiance at a time when our government looked away and stigmatized our struggles. Our LGBTQ+ community’s fight for research, treatment, and dignity became the foundation of our movement, teaching us how to organize, protect each other, and demand the care we deserve.
Today, the progress our community fought for is under threat again, as the current administration’s effort to weaken HIV prevention resources and support systems risks rolling back decades of hard-won advancements. Once again, our community must rise to meet the moment.
Our Stonewall generation, who battled stigma, marched for research, and cared for one another, is now facing health disparities, fixed incomes, housing insecurity, and isolation. Meanwhile, our youth are facing escalating attacks on their rights and access to trans and nonbinary health care.
At The Center, we believe that every generation deserves a future.
Your Giving Tuesday gift helps us protect our future and sustain the programs that continue the legacy of resistance and care built during the AIDS crisis, including:
- Advocacy to fight against political attacks and funding cuts threatening our community’s future.
- Youth Services that affirm, educate, and protect the next generation.
- Senior Services that uplift and care for our elders, including long-term survivors.
- HIV prevention services that keep us on track to end new transmissions.
Your gift not only supports our programs but helps hold the line for every generation in our LBGTQ+ community. On this World AIDS Day and Giving Tuesday, I’m asking you to join me in honoring the legacy of those we’ve lost, protect those living with HIV today, and safeguard our progress.
Thanks to the Challenge Match from RICH’S, every dollar will be matched up to $25K. If we raise $25,000 in community donations, RICH’S will match that for a total of $50K!
Please support The Center with a Giving Tuesday gift, so we can continue the fight—for our elders, our youth, and every LGBTQ+ generation yet to come.
In Community,
Ian Johnson (he/him)
Senior Director of Development