This post is sponsored by State Farm ®; all views are my own.
Since Pride month I have been continuing to team up with my friends at State Farm to post about LGBTQ+ issues and highlight some of the great work organizations are doing to advance LGBTQ+ rights and support across the country. I thought it would be helpful to round up some of the ways we can all help keep pride going all year long.
1. Getting involved
Ever since I was at college I’ve been involved in volunteering for local organizations and have always found it interesting, rewarding and a lot of fun! Lots of local LGBTQ+ organizations need people with time and energy to help. For example, GLSEN has local chapters and The Trevor Project has a volunteer program. Plus, you can always check out State Farm’s Neighborhood of Good where you can find local opportunities to volunteer in your local area.
2. Make a regular donation
Regular donors make such a difference to a not-for-profits as they provide more certainty and stability for the organization and helps them to plan and invest into their great work. They are much more likely to take on larger projects or hire more staff if they know they have regular donations coming in rather than just one-off donations. If you can make a regular donation to an LGBTQ+ organization, please do. I have been doing this for the last couple of years — it doesn’t have to be a lot and remember they are often tax deductible. If you work for a company, don’t forget that some employers will match your donations. I also use a ride sharing app which rounds up my fare to the nearest dollar and donates that automatically to a not-for-profit of my choice. I don’t notice this couple of cents or dollars each day, but it adds up over the year and is a great way to seamlessly build giving back into your everyday life.
3. Keep speaking out
The final thing I am doing is continuing to be proud and speaking out about who I love – showing people that we all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We have a long way to go, but I know in my experience one of the most powerful experiences in changing minds is getting to know people and talking to them. I know this isn’t going to change everyone’s mind, but I still think it is really important and effective way to change hearts and minds so that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community feels free to live their truth. As I said in a recent Instagram post: pride only exists when we are all free to be proud.
30 Comments
Thank you for this important post.
@Deb — Of course, the least I can do!
Love you even more for writing this post Will.
@Christian – Thank you for reading and supporting.
These are great ways to help. I volunteer as well and I’ve met so many wonderful people through doing it.
@Savannah – Great to hear that you’ve been enjoining volunteering!
Beautifully said Will!! Your kind heart shines through wherever you go.
@Trina – That is so lovely, thank you.
Hi Will
I heard about Glsen from one of your posts during pride month; I’ve been following them since and they do great work for our community, as do you.
Best,
Paul
@Paul – Right? They do amazing work! Thank you for following along.
Thank you for using your platform in such a positive way.
@Erik – Of course! It’s the least I can do.
These rainbow walls tho 🤩🤩🤩
@Timmy – 👌
A) You are adorable and B) These are great ideas to help.
@Obe – Thank you 💙
Love your idea of regular donation… you’ve inspired me to start giving $10 a month to The Trevor Project… I was thinking and it’s just two less coffees out a month so I can totally do that! — RT
@RT – That’s a great way of looking at it! 🙂
Those steps are amaaaaaaaaaaaazing! 👏
@Kat – I know! I was so excited to find them!
Always appreciate your posts about volunteering, Will. It’s something that’s near to my heart so it pleases me to see someone I admire online using their platform to encourage it. Thank YOU.
@Dustin – Of course! The least I can do!
Omg, I love this post. Yes, I agree that you should do volunteer work in your community and other communities. It’s rewarding!
@Marcus – Totally! So rewarding. I’ve met so many great people through volunteering!
Great post and a worthy cause! And absolutely love the colorful pictures and shorts.
I love this! Happy Pride 2020, all year long!
Hi! I follow you on Instagram. I agree with you. Treat every human being with respect and dignity no matter their condition. Real strength is like having enough self-respect, enough class, and dignity to not allow anyone in any regard to effect your good-tasting medicine.
Be a kind human always. Show compassion, have a listening ear, ask someone about their day. Showing small acts of kindness throughout your life start-up in a great way. It may mean more to them and help them more than you could ever imagine.
Love the message here!!! Where did you get these shorts! They’re so cute!
@Robert – Abercombie!