Campaign for Southern Equality

The Campaign for Southern Equality is a civil rights organization based in Asheville, NC, dedicated to advancing legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people across the South. Operating with staff located throughout the Southeast, the organization employs a comprehensive range of strategies to create meaningful change, including direct services, direct action, litigation, grant-making, and long-term organizing initiatives. The Campaign for Southern Equality provides critical resources and support to LGBTQ+ individuals and families facing systemic barriers. Their Trans Youth Emergency Project offers custom one-on-one logistical support and travel grants to help families of transgender youth nationwide navigate gender-affirming care access despite restrictive state bans. The organization also maintains the Trans in the South Directory, a comprehensive resource listing nearly 400 trans-affirming health and legal service providers throughout the region. Additionally, the Campaign for Southern Equality operates the Southern Equality Fund, which provides funding and training to grassroots organizers and activists working to advance LGBTQ+ rights in their local communities. With a focus on equity across race, class, and gender, the organization prioritizes support for groups and leaders whose access to resources is limited due to barriers such as rural location or lack of 501c3 status. Since launching from a church basement in 2011, the Campaign for Southern Equality has grown to become a regional force in advancing legal protections and systemic change throughout the South.