Founding Partners
Headline Sponsors
Ally Sponsors
City for LGBT+ 2023: Protecting Our Communities
This live crowdfunding event brings together our community and corporate allies for a fun, impactful evening of speakers, networking, and a hosted reception. After hearing from inspiring LGBTQI activists about the work they are doing to protect their communities, guests are invited to pledge donations in an auction-style session and make a lasting difference to the lives of LGBTQI people in the UK and around the world.
In just four years, City for LGBT+ has raised over £180,000. This year we are delighted to welcome Josh Graff, Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir and Emma Cusdin to open the event with a panel conversation.
GiveOut’s City for LGBT+ Grant Partners
National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC), Kenya
NGLHRC provides legal representation and support to challenge and prevent discrimination based on SOGIE in Kenya. As well as engaging in high profile litigation, NGLHRC offer free legal advice, carry out community outreach, offer education programmes and paralegal training, and conduct sensitisation training with police, health and legal staff.
This year NGLHRC achieved a victory through the Supreme Court, winning the right to associate after a 10-year legal battle. However, this has sparked a backlash from conservative religious leaders and politicians, who have vowed to appeal the decision and have increased homophobic rhetoric and scapegoating of the LGBTQI community. Conservative MPs have threatened to introduce new laws mimicking Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill, which criminalises identifying as LGBTQI as well as punishing allies who support the community.
LGBT+ Consortium, United Kingdom
Consortium is a specialist onward grant maker partnering with other funders to better support LGBT+ groups and organisations. Using their specialist grant giving expertise Consortium are committed to reaching those most in need, through a participative and intersectional approach and providing wraparound support. Funds raised through City for LGBT+ will support grassroots groups working at the forefront of the trans rights movement in the United Kingdom, protecting some of the most oppressed members of our communities.
Equal Rights Association (ERA), Western Balkans and Turkey
ERA is the regional LGBTQI network for the Western Balkans and Turkey. Advances for LGBTQI equality in the region are increasingly under threat. The lack of legal recognition and protections for LGBTQI people combined with high levels of stigmatisation and social rejection highlight the need for ERA’s support of its 81 member organisations to strengthen their legal advocacy, awareness campaigns and grassroots initiatives, to prevent a backslide against the progress for equality gained since the post-war period.
City for LGBT+ Speakers
Aisha Shaibu-Lenoir (she/her) is an LGBTQ+ activist, cultural producer, and listed as one of the ‘Top 100 LGBTQ+ Trailblazers’ changing the world. Aisha’s activism and community contribution extend to the work she does as Head of Community Engagement for UK Black Pride and as a Trustee for GiveOut.
Josh Graff (he/him) is the Managing Director for LinkedIn EMEA & LATAM and an advocate for equality both within and beyond the workplace. He is a supporter of Just Like Us and Stonewall, and was recently a Commissioner for the HIV Commission. Josh set up the Steinberg Graff Fund for International LGBTQI Rights through GiveOut, which is supporting organisations in Cambodia, Southern Africa and the Czech Republic to advance equality through campaigning and promoting public acceptance of LGBTQI people.
Emma Cusdin (she/her) is a speaker, facilitator and champion for trans and non-binary rights. With over 20 years’ experience in human resources, Emma is a multi award-winning role model in the business sector for LGBT+ people. She is a passionate activist and supporter of the global struggle for trans human rights including co-founder of Trans*formation and Director of Global Butterflies, which also provides support and funding to grassroots trans organisations through GiveOut.
Become a Sponsor and Support LGBTQI Communities in Crisis
There are lots of ways your business can get involved, all sponsorship levels include a table for up to ten guests with canapes and drinks.
You will hear directly from the nominated LGBTQI organisations for this year’s event on the impact of their work, and participate in the live crowdfunding during the evening to raise funds for each organisation represented.
Headline Sponsor Talk on stage about your business’ support and feature heavily in all online & print promotion and at the event. Receive a briefing from one of our grant partners - £5,000+
Charity Sponsor Sponsor a GiveOut grant partner. Talk on stage about your sponsored charity and feature in online promotion and at the event. Receive a briefing from your sponsored grant partner - £2,500+
Ally Sponsor Become a general sponsor of the event - £1,000+
Invite your LGBTQI staff network to join the event and provide matched funding to double the impact of their donations if you have a company matching program.
To get involved as a sponsor or any questions please email city@giveout.org
Impact Stories
In Jamaica, funds from City for LGBT+ helped J-FLAG to rebuild their ‘Rainbow House’ community centre which had been destroyed in a fire. This space ensures that LGBTQI people in Jamaica, a country that has become notorious for its widespread homophobia, have a space to gather, support each other, and access vital services.
Glenroy, the Executive Director of J-FLAG, said: “Rainbow House represents a safe space for members of the community to connect, share experiences, create art and build the sense of fellowship which is lacking as well as get access to critical support.”
And in India, the Centre for Law and Policy Research have pushed for equality in India by providing free legal services for trans people, and argued the case for marriage equality before India’s Supreme Court, with a ruling due soon.
Jayna Kothari, the Executive Director of CLPR said: “With the support of GiveOut over the past several years, we have been able to do pioneering transgender rights work in India. One of the biggest things we have done recently is to seek marriage equality for trans persons under the civil marriage law, and we are hoping to get a really good verdict this year.”
