TransUnited Fund yesterday announced its birth.

After repeated attacks at the state legislative level, a group of transgender and allied individuals are launching a political advocacy organization exclusively focused on advancing the rights of transgender individuals.

Trans United Fund will accomplish their mission by engaging transgender communities and allies in the political process, building political leadership and capacity of transgender people and allies and endorsing candidates with a commitment to transgender equality and a pro-transgender platform. The first-ever transgender focused Presidential Candidate Questionnaire has been developed and will be distributed to all potential candidate as part of the 2016 election cycle, in addition to a legislative scorecard program and efforts related to building political power in the trans communities and educating allies. The organization is looking at key races across the country in the 2016 election cycle to focus resources where they can make the most difference.

The transgender community is no stranger to adversity but what we face today is a new challenge, a coordinated, national and vicious attack from the far right at municipal, school district and legislative levels. Trans United Fund will fill a crucial gap in our movement, creating a space for transgender people and our allies.

We can not only fight these vicious political attacks that cater to fear and division, we must build a proactive politics to address other issues that impact our community - from HIV to homelessness to immigration and the horrific epidemic of violence

We need candidates to understand that being supportive of trans equality begins with supporting non- discrimination but also must proactively address the issues that impact the most vulnerable in our community. I'm exhausted and profoundly saddened every day I hear about another young trans person that has taken their life because the bullying and discrimination was too much, another trans woman of color murdered senselessly and the myriad other forms of discrimination we face. Education is crucial but so is action, there is simply too much at stake.

--Hayden Mora, founding member

Trans United Fund is a bi-partisan 501(c)(4) organization. Trans United Fund is organized around the conviction that endorsements and community support must be earned.

The diverse Advisory Committee consists of

Jacob Tobia (Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice)
Bamby Salcedo (TransLatin@ Coalition)
Brynn Tannehill (Sparta)
Max Toth (AFL-CIO)
Mason Dunn (Mass Trans Political Coalition)
Owen Smith (Western States Center)
Hayden Mora (The Parallax Group)
Danni Askini (Gender Justice League)
Andrea Jenkins (Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota)
Monica Roberts (Trans Griot)
Arianna Lint (TransLatin@ Coalition)
Alison Gill (The Parallax Group)
Allison Van Kuiken (Pennsylvania Competes)

I'm part of Trans United because trans people need a strong political voice to support the activism, legal, policy and direct service work already happening. I fight every day to address the consequences of inhuman immigration policies, the disproportionate impact of HIV on our community, violence and disenfranchisement particularly of the most vulnerable in our community - young people, black and brown people- particularly women- and immigrants. We save lives every day but we can't reach everyone with direct services. We need to move from being primarily reactive to more proactive, going to the root of institutionalized transphobia. And that requires a stronger political voice.

--Bamby Salcedo

Trans United Fund's launch is the next example of sophistication within this movement. As long as we have a privately raised finance system, participating in it is crucial to achieve the progress we need. Few in the nation have faced the challenges transgender Americans face; kudos that despite the discrimination, they are still willing to engage in the political process to make this country stronger.

--Robert Raben, political consultant and former assistant attorney general under President Bill Clinton

You may express your support here.