In a year marked by both celebration and concern for LGBTQ communities across the United States, two significant developments have underscored the ongoing struggle for equality, safety, and recognition. The Stonewall Community Foundation, a prominent philanthropic organization based in New York City, has rolled out a sweeping new grant initiative aimed at empowering trans and queer-led groups nationwide. At the same time, Monica Helms—the creator of the iconic transgender pride flag—has launched a public fundraiser to support her and her wife Darlene Wagner’s move abroad, citing increasing persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in the U.S.
Announced in August 2025, the Stonewall Community Foundation’s new “Reclaiming Our Power” grant program is designed as a multi-year effort to bolster the resilience and influence of LGBTQ organizations, many of which have been historically underfunded and overlooked. According to the foundation, the inaugural round of grants will distribute a total of $825,000 to ten organizations across the country, with plans to expand support to fifteen groups by 2026. The funding will be delivered over the next three years, providing $20,000 annually for two years and the possibility of an additional $15,000 in the third year for each recipient.
The focus of the initiative is twofold: supporting community resilience through direct services for LGBTQ individuals, and investing in power building—work that mobilizes, organizes, and shifts policies or systems to advance justice and equity. The foundation’s executive director, Elisa Crespo, emphasized the importance of this dual approach, stating, “With this initial cohort, we believe these organizations reflect the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ movement and are advancing transformative work across a range of issues, from healthcare access and legal services to policy advocacy and safety initiatives.” (Stonewall Community Foundation)
Among the first ten grantees are several New York-based groups making a tangible difference at the grassroots level. Transformative Schools, for example, offers a free after-school program tailored to the needs of trans, queer, non-binary, and gender-expansive youth—an often underserved population. Out My Closet addresses the immediate needs of under-resourced and unhoused LGBTQ youth and adults by providing clothing donations, counseling, and educational workshops. The Chosen Family Law Center works to ensure social and legal recognition of LGBTQ families and individuals through advocacy, education, and legal services, while the Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center provides free immigration legal services to current and former sex workers and trafficking survivors.
The reach of the grants extends far beyond New York. Other recipients include Mashup Nashville in Tennessee, Traction Project in Oregon, Therapy Center of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, the St. Louis Anti-Violence Project in Missouri, the Queer Trans Project in Florida, and Building Out Safer Spaces and Skill Sets in Arizona. Each of these organizations brings a unique perspective and set of services to the table, reflecting the diversity and breadth of the LGBTQ community nationwide.
The selection process for the grants was highly competitive, underscoring the urgent need for support in the current climate. The foundation received an astonishing 182 proposals in just four weeks, a figure that reveals both the depth of LGBTQ leadership and the acute demand for resources. As Maryse Pearce, the foundation’s program director, explained, “In a time when LGBTQ+ communities are being targeted at an unprecedented scale, we are investing in their power, their safety, and their future.” (Stonewall Community Foundation)
The Reclaiming Our Power initiative is funded in part by the Mark L. Brant Legacy Fund and is intended to prioritize organizations led by and for trans individuals and people of color. Stonewall Community Foundation has expressed its intention to collaborate with other philanthropic groups to grow the initiative, ensuring that resources continue to reach those most in need. The five remaining grantees will be announced in 2026, further expanding the program’s impact.
While the grant initiative represents a beacon of hope and solidarity for many, it comes at a time when prominent figures in the LGBTQ community are making difficult decisions in response to rising hostility. On September 5, 2025, Monica Helms—the creator of the transgender pride flag—announced that she and her wife, Darlene Wagner, have launched a fundraiser to facilitate their move abroad. According to The Advocate, the couple’s decision is motivated by the increasing persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States.
Helms is a revered figure in the LGBTQ rights movement. Her creation of the transgender pride flag in 1999 provided a powerful symbol of visibility, unity, and pride for trans people worldwide. The flag, with its blue, pink, and white stripes, has been flown at countless rallies, pride marches, and commemorative events—including the Stonewall 50th Commemoration rally at WorldPride NYC in 2019, where Helms personally gifted the flag to the co-owners of the historic Stonewall Inn.
Now, Helms’s decision to leave the country serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges many LGBTQ Americans continue to face. The fundraiser launched by Helms and Wagner is not just a personal plea; it is a reflection of a broader sense of vulnerability felt by many in the community as legislative and social threats have escalated in recent years. While the article did not include a direct quote from Helms, the context provided by The Advocate makes clear that the couple’s move is a response to what they perceive as an unsafe environment for LGBTQ people in the U.S.
The juxtaposition of these two stories—the expansion of support for LGBTQ organizations and the emigration of a leading trans activist—captures the complexities of the current moment. On one hand, philanthropic initiatives like Reclaiming Our Power are investing in the future, safety, and empowerment of LGBTQ communities. On the other, the lived experiences of individuals like Monica Helms highlight the persistent threats and anxieties that continue to shape the lives of many queer Americans.
For the organizations receiving the Stonewall Community Foundation’s support, the grants represent not just financial assistance but also a recognition of the critical work being done on the ground. These groups are providing services, advocacy, and safe spaces at a time when such resources are more essential than ever. The fact that the foundation received so many applications is both a testament to the vibrancy of LGBTQ leadership and a stark indicator of the challenges that remain.
As the Reclaiming Our Power initiative moves forward, with five additional grantees to be named in 2026, there is hope that increased funding and collaboration will help sustain and grow the movement for justice and equity. At the same time, stories like Monica Helms’s remind us that the path toward true equality remains fraught with obstacles—and that the fight for dignity and safety is far from over.
Amid celebration and struggle, the LGBTQ community continues to demonstrate resilience, creativity, and determination. Whether through grassroots activism, legal advocacy, or the creation of symbols that inspire millions, the work goes on—driven by the conviction that everyone deserves to live with dignity, pride, and hope.