We give priority to LGBTQ communities that have been pushed to the margins based on racial, gender or economic status in specific countries in the Americas and Africa, where evidence suggests potential for concrete change over a 10 year period.
Social Justice Goals
The Social Justice Program envisions a world in which all LGBTQ people live with dignity, safety, and opportunity in inclusive communities and societies. We realize this vision by supporting initiatives under three goals (see below):1. Increased safety for LGBTQ people;
2. Increased LGBTQ-affirming protections; and
3. Increased inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ people. For each of the goals, our grantmaking addresses the following areas:
- Cross-movement collaboration and coordination;
- Establishment of durable networks, especially among the most marginalized communities;
- Efforts led by and for the communities most affected;
- Initiatives led by faith, trans, and other groups with less access to resources and who are marginalized within LGBTQ communities;
- Inclusion of those most marginalized in decision-making and organizational leadership; and
- Work that increases the political power of constituencies to influence change through civic engagement and democratic participation.
Geographic Focus Areas
To achieve the greatest impact with the foundation’s finite resources, Arcus has identified priority areas within the Americas and Africa.
- Southern United States; Arizona, California (Central Valley), Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina.
- East and Southern Africa; Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda.
- Mexico, and the following countries in the Caribbean and Central America; El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Trinidad & Tobago.
Increased safety for LGBTQ people
Anticipated Outcome:- Safer societies with reduced levels of anti-LGBTQ violence and increased security of LGBTQ advocates and communities.
- Production and use of research, data, and documentation on acts of violence and hate, with attention to vulnerable groups;
- Public education and advocacy initiatives targeting or involving local and national agencies responsible for safety and security, the media, and faith communities and leaders.
Information on other relevant funders may be found on the website of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.
Increased LGBTQ-affirming protections
Anticipated Outcome:- International, regional, national, and local policies fully protect and uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all LGBTQ people; and repeal of those policies which curtail such rights and freedoms.
- Challenges to discriminatory legal provisions and practices, existing or proposed, and adoption and implementation of anti-discrimination measures;
- Policy-focused campaigning, including training, litigation and media coverage, based on data and in alliance with other movements, and leaders in faith, politics, and civil society;
- Initiatives to expand democratic participation of local constituencies, and to place LGBTQ people—especially those most marginalized—in leadership positions.
Information on other relevant funders may be found on the website of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.
Increased inclusion and acceptance of LGBTQ people
Anticipated Outcome:- Positive public perceptions, narratives, and discourses that appreciate the full diversity and experiences of LGBTQ people, produced in conjunction with or by LGBTQ people themselves, especially those pushed to the margins.
- Production, disaggregation, and analysis of data on public opinion, including perception, messaging, and understanding—particularly related to those most marginalized—and tracking and analysis of media representation to build medium and long-term strategies;
- Targeted coverage by multiple forms of media and education campaigns for LGBTQ acceptance and social inclusion, particularly focused on those most excluded, and including voices of leaders from both faith and non-faith backgrounds;
- Training with actionable outcomes for specific changes, such as for the media to increase positive coverage of LGBTQ issues or among faith leaders to advocate for greater inclusivity.
Information on other relevant funders may be found on the website of Funders for LGBTQ Issues.