Lavender Rights Project

Lavender Rights Project provides life-saving legal and direct services that are by-and-for Black and gender diverse communities throughout WA and the United States. We activate movement building, community organizing, and policy change through the lens of Black trans feminism. Our work offers innovative, informed solutions that celebrate the joy, dreams, and brilliance of Black & gender diverse communities in Washington State and across the United States. 

What your gift makes possible

Our three areas of impact (Gender Based Violence Prevention, Housing and Economic Justice) provide stability, joy, and safety for Black communities in Washington State and across the USA. Your gift makes the following programs possible:

• Decriminalization: Through Movement Lawyering and education our team collectively works to advocate for the liberation of Black trans people in Seattle & nationally. We utilize political education, community organizing, advocacy, coalition building to build community power for Black communities across the United States. While we advocate for many aspects of Black trans liberation, we are currently focused on ending Cash Bail and reforming the injustices of carceral system.

• Economic Justice — Economic justice is life-saving for Black trans people, and we believe in a guaranteed income for gender diverse people in need. We have provided a guaranteed income to five Black trans people at $1000 a month for two years. Our staff believe that local & state governments should fund guaranteed income programs, and we are working to make this a reality.

• Housing Justice — LRP is addressing housing inequities by building a future where everyone can access housing that is responsive to individual and collective needs. We work closely with local governments to prioritize culturally competent housing services for Black trans people. Our partnership with King County and the City of Seattle will redirect funding from jails to support housing for 30 Black, Indigenous, and Gender Diverse community members in a new, gorgeous apartment. We are sharing this replicable model with Black trans-led organizations nationally.

Our Real World Impact

"LRP is cultivating an intersectional movement centered on leadership development, building power, and creating communities of care. Our work is urgently needed right now given the onslaught of attacks against Black and trans communities. If we can get it right for Black trans women and their intersectional needs, then we can finally take care of everyone." - Jaelynn Scott, Executive Director

• Provided 103 Black and indigenous clients with free, affirming BIPOC-led legal aid since May 2022

• Supported Black trans families with $100,000 in mutual aid since 2022  

• Co-led a diversion of $16 million from King County Jail into Black-led housing initiatives across Seattle

• Successfully advocated for $2 million in capacity funding for trans youth in WA State's biennial budget

• Successfully advocated for the protection of Black Trans Women in King County Domestic Violence Movements

• Collaborated with Rep. Pramila Jayapal and other community leaders to develop the National Transgender Bill of Rights

• Disrupted carceral pipelines harming trans people of color in Washington State

We envision a world where Black trans women—and consequently all Black and gender diverse communities—thrive, but it's going to take all of our collective support to make that happen.

Your generosity frees the organization from common funding restrictions and allows us to better serve our community in crucial ways. By investing in the ability for Black gender diverse community members to protect, assert, and fight for their legal rights, for their right to the pursuit of happiness, we all come closer to true self-determination, autonomy, and resilience. 

 Make the commitment to protect Black trans life today.