Campaign for Southern Equality
About Campaign for Southern Equality
Founded in 2011 from a church basement in the mountains of North Carolina, the Campaign for Southern Equality has grown into a vital advocacy organization serving LGBTQ+ communities throughout the South from their Asheville, NC base. The organization was born from a recognition that more than one third of all LGBTQ+ Americans live in the South, yet face significant legal barriers, political attacks, and systemic inequities in health care and economic opportunity. The Campaign for Southern Equality's mission centers on building a South where zip code does not determine rights, where LGBTQ+ people can be authentically themselves and love freely, and where access to affirming healthcare, education, and services is guaranteed. Their work is rooted in empathy and equity, guided by a commitment to understand and support the courageous LGBTQ+ Southerners already doing heroic organizing work in their hometowns. The organization played a pivotal role in marriage equality efforts across the South, including the WE DO Campaign that mobilized over 200 LGBTQ+ couples to request marriage licenses in their communities, and participated in landmark litigation striking down marriage bans and adoption restrictions. Today, the Campaign for Southern Equality continues this legacy of bold action and community-centered support, recognizing that the South is changing through the courage of LGBTQ+ people themselves. Their vision remains steadfast: a South where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive with dignity, safety, and full equality in every sphere of life.