What LGBT Americans can expect from a Trump administration and the realities of marriage equality were topics of a lecture presented by Our Fund Thursday evening in Fort Lauderdale.

It was the season for flashing reindeer, decked halls, silent nights, and double-checked gift lists. And those gift lists did not come only from brother Johnny and Aunt Sue.   There were telethons and radio marathons and mail-athons and pass-the-basket-athons, each asking for gifts of money for a favorite cause or politician.  

Suicide prevention, companionship, healthier living, artistic expression and education. Those are some of the goals behind Our Fund’s donation of 78,750 in grants to 12 organizations in South Florida. Most are focused on LGBT causes but the ones that aren’t were given the money because it will be used to help LGBT individuals.

Arts organizations have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic with theaters and performing arts venues largely shuttered until a vaccine can be developed.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the LGBT arts scene in South Florida. The shutdown impacted theaters, art walks, musical performances, and an entire community of people working in the arts and beyond. 

Millions have been raised for the victims of June’s Pulse nightclub shooting. Now, Our Fund has been chosen to manage $1.5 million for non-profit organizations in Orlando and Central Florida.

In the U.S., mass incarceration is an LGBT issue. The U.S. incarcerates people at a higher rate than nearly every other nation in the world — poor LGBT people and LGBT people of color are disproportionately affected. 

Two South Florida LGBT groups plan to discuss next week what they will do locally in support of the June 11 National Pride March in Washington D.C., which has attracted the interest of more than 100,000 people. Other groups plan to attend the D.C. march, but have no plans to do something in South Florida.