Message from the Executive Director
I cannot overstate how urgent our work and that of our grantees feels in this moment.
Attacks on bodily autonomy in the U.S. have escalated to levels not previously seen in my generation. An unprecedented wave of anti-trans and anti-abortion legislation is sweeping the nation, and it is no coincidence that there is a significant overlap between the states where trans communities are being most heavily persecuted and those with the most significant abortion restrictions. These laws are based on the desire for patriarchal control, and bodily autonomy threatens the very foundations of the patriarchy with the promise of freeing us all, from the rigid constraints of gender norms, roles, and expectations.
It is for this reason that anti-trans rhetoric from cisgender women who consider themselves “feminists” is not only hateful and deeply anti-feminist, it is also woefully misguided. The systems and power structures that incarcerated a 19-year-old Nevada girl for using abortion pills are the very same forces wreaking havoc in school districts and public library systems across the nation with anti-trans rhetoric, advocating for book and drag bans, and enacting policies that force teachers to out LGBTQ students to their parents.
While Pennsylvania has been spared from the worst of these attacks, we are by no means safe. Moms for Liberty - designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their stances on racial equity, trans inclusion, and public education - held their annual conference in Philadelphia last month, in part because PA is home to the second highest number of chapters of the organization. In a meeting shortly after that conference, I listened as public library employees from Bucks and Montgomery counties described harassment from anti-LGBTQ activists that seemed to be drawn directly from the anti-abortion protester playbook.
While it might seem that these forces have sprung up overnight, they are, in fact, the product of decades of organizing, funding, and strategy. We must fight back with the same dogged tenacity and long-term vision. In this issue of the newsletter, we spotlight the work of grantee, Eastern PA Trans Equity Project (EPTEP), who, in addition to providing support to trans people across 16 counties, is working to advocate for bodily autonomy and the rights of trans people statewide. I encourage you to learn more about their work and to stay abreast of the issues.
Now, more than ever, is a time to step forward – talk to your schools, your faith communities, your community groups, your book clubs, and your families about how you can support bodily autonomy. Remind your communities that abortion remains completely banned in 15 states and severely restricted in many others. Donate funds where you can and stay informed. A few of our favorite sources of information are below. And as always, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) so you can keep up with the latest in our efforts in this fight.
Erin in the Morning
Guttmacher Institute
Rewire News Group
Transgender Law Center
TransLash Media
In solidarity,

Executive Director
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Staff Updates

We are excited to welcome Kabria Rogers as GJF’s new Grant and Operations Associate. Kabria’s career path has included corporate staffing, hospitality, arts administration, and philanthropy. Kabria previously served on the Steering Committee of the Philadelphia chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. She managed the grant portfolio for Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance and currently serves on the board for Intercultural Journeys, a small arts organization. Kabria is a working writer deeply invested in social justice, arts, and culture by way of creative practice, curiosity, and community building. She has written a variety of pieces, both creatively and professionally, including contributions in two anthologies. In her role at GJF, Kabria will support grantmaking and communications activities.
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Grantee Spotlight: Eastern PA Trans Equity Project
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project (EPTEP) is a grassroots, volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of transgender Pennsylvanians. They serve a 16-county area of Pennsylvania, where an estimated 50,000-100,000 people of transgender experience live.
Whether it’s through helping someone obtain a name change, a college scholarship, or stable housing, or getting their rights affirmed under law, EPTEP is focused on helping trans people “thrive instead of just survive.” According to the 2020 Pennsylvania LGBTQ Health Needs Assessment, up to 50% of trans individuals in EPTEP’s service area have experienced homelessness, up to 53% have food insecurity, and up to 46% live below the poverty line. Due to past experience and discrimination, many transgender people do not trust traditional avenues for finding needed assistance. EPTEP fills this gap by providing a trusted resource and services that help transgender people overcome challenges and live complete, equitable, and full lives, including supportive programs (in particular their core legal name change assistance program); empowerment and mutual aid grants; and education workshops, trainings, and resources.
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Stevie Lewis, Chief Diversity Officer at Ikea North America speaking at a rally in support of the PA Fairness Act co-organized by Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, and Human Rights Campaign, ACLU Pennsylvania and PA Youth Congress. Photo courtesy of EPTEP
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EPTEP is also working at the forefront of PA legislative efforts to protect and defend trans rights. This year, their prime focus has been the passage of the PA Fairness Act (HB 300/ SB 150), which, if passed, would make discrimination against LGBTQ+ people illegal in the Commonwealth, and would replace the current patchwork of local laws that leaves 65% of Pennsylvanians unprotected from discrimination. EPTEP is working in coalition with the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Human Rights Campaign, Pennsylvania Youth Congress, Trevor Project, and other advocacy organizations to advocate for its passage. Among the many other issues on their radar in the current legislative session, EPTEP is focused on advocating for the passage of the hate crimes and panic defense bills (HB 637).
In addition to their empowerment and advocacy efforts, EPTEP develops free publications and transgender education materials to meet the ongoing needs of representation, visibility and support for the community. “There is a real need for programming that supports young people and the leaders of the programs listed [in this resource] do amazing work – often with a shortage of funding and in a historically unfriendly environment. They are brave leaders, and I am honored to call many of them my friends,” says EPTEP’s Executive Director, Corrine Goodwin. Check out “Supporting Trans Kids, a two-page resource guide for trans youth.
To learn more about Eastern PA Trans Project work visit their website, or sign up for their newsletter and various social media channels. You can also show your support by making a purchase from their online store.
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Issue Spotlight: Student Loan Debt
Do you remember hearing “Go to college, get a degree, it will secure your future”? Higher education has been a key component of the “American Dream” since the 1940s. A bachelor’s degree was a golden ticket to a higher salary and secure future. The system even worked for some baby boomers. College was affordable and, in most cases, having a college degree offered a competitive edge in the job market. However, college education costs have risen 103% since 1987, while the median household income has increased only 14%. This is why the Supreme Court’s ruling in Biden v. Nebraska – which effectively eviscerated the President’s student debt cancellation plan – was met with such widespread dismay. The plan would have brought relief to as many as 43 million borrowers – roughly 1 in 8 Americans.
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For women, the blow is far more devastating. Women hold two-thirds of all student loan debt, but female graduates earn only 74% of what male graduates are paid. And as is so often the case, Black women fare even worse. They have the highest debt load of any group, and graduate owing an average of $37,558, compared to the $22,000 owed by all women, and $18,880 owed by men. Viewed in the context of the persistent gender wage gap and the disproportionate caregiving costs borne by women, especially women of color, this decision is catastrophic for women and all who care about gender justice.
The Biden Administration has released information about a new repayment plan for borrowers. However, the plan falls short in comparison to the originally proposed student loan debt relief of up $40,000 for Pell grantees, predominantly Black and brown people. The student loan pause was one silver lining in the middle of the global pandemic and is set to disappear in October 2023 unless our leaders act. We hope they will do so. To keep up with the latest developments on student loans, follow the Department of Education. For more information about the continued effort to achieve debt cancellation, follow The Debt Collective.
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