OUT Boulder County Action is raring to begin advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in response to the nationwide introduction of anti-trans legislation.
“We are now in existence and we are working to advocate for and help to educate about a variety of hot topics, anti-trans efforts is one of many,” said Neil Fishman, OUT Boulder County Action board president.
The new organization is a 501(c)(4) which means it is a nonprofit organization that can promote the social welfare of a group, endorse political candidates and advocate for causes and propositions. Donations to nonprofit 501(c)(4) organizations are not tax deductible.
“As we have been watching anti-trans all over the country slowly coming to Colorado, OUT Boulder County Action, which is a new organization, is going to allow us to protect LGBTQ people in policy work that should be done,” said Mardi Moore, executive director of OUT Boulder County and board member of OUT Boulder County Action.
Although the organizations’ names are similar, OUT Boulder County remains a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides services and support to members of the LGBTQ community. As more legislation is introduced that targets members of this community OUT Boulder County found itself unable to advocate for the community it serves in a way that was impactful due to the political restriction placed on this type of nonprofit.
“This new organization will work specifically to focus on those policies that are discriminatory and will be able to play in the political world where we cannot do that now,” Moore said.
A few years ago, things were looking up for the LGBTQ community as legislation and policy leaned toward equality, beginning with marriage equality, Moore said. However, in 2023, an estimated 600 pieces of anti-trans legislation were introduced across the country.
“We are lucky here in Colorado that we haven’t seen anything pass, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t trying,” Moore said. “It’s an election year and it is important to have the LGBTQ community front and center in the world of politics and policy.”
OUT Boulder County Action will not just work within Boulder County but in the northern Colorado region, Fishman said. “It’s exciting, it’s necessary and it’s a lot of hard work.”
OUT Boulder County Action is an all-volunteer organization. For those who would like to get involved can connect through its website.
“We can provide services for folks until the cows come home,” Moore said. “But if we, as a community, don’t start making larger impacts on policies and hearts and minds, pay attention to who gets elected, things are never going to change … Through OUT Boulder County Action we can make an impact and be larger in the world of policy and politics that will eventually trickle down to better mental health, more access to services, the freedom to walk down the street holding your partner’s hand without fear. It’s a world we all want to live in and OUT Boulder County Action will be working in that direction.”
