My name is Urooj, and I lead Advocates for Youth’s efforts to help young people fight homophobia and transphobia abroad. In too many countries around the globe, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth face discrimination that threatens their lives and their access to sexual and reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

I recently traveled to Uganda to train a group of LGBT youth activists and allies. We had to identify a “safe space” to meet because just meeting is an act of resistance. Uganda is one of 78 countries where homosexuality is a crime. Policy makers have proposed a bill to make Uganda the eighth country where homosexuality is punishable by death.

Donate today to help raise $5,000 to support brave LGBT youth activists who are fighting harassment and life-threatening laws around the globe. Donate today and you can be an ally in places like Nigeria, Jamaica and Uganda where LGBT youth activists face intimidation, imprisonment or worse.

Advocates for Youth provides training and seed grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to organizations overseas to keep the doors open at their youth-led resource centers. These centers provide support and encouragement to LGBT youth, many of whom have nowhere else to turn in communities where it is not safe to be who they are.

Donate today in honor of our youth activists who put nothing less than their lives on the line all year long. Your gift today supports their work and lets them know they are not alone.

With thanks for your activism and support all year long,

Urooj Arshad

International LGBT Health and Rights