Photo by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft

Political angst. Anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Threats to democracy. Climate change. Rise of global alt-right fascism. Skyrocketing homelessness. There’s a lot to be upset about right now. It’s easy to feel like we’re all right on the edge, just waiting for the next catastrophe to push us over.

When things seem so bleak, the future can be hard to think about. But I believe that, while we may not always get things right or see eye to eye, humanity at its core is about making life a little better for other people. “Be the change you wish to see” isn’t just an adage meant to soothe frazzled nerves — it’s a call to action. If we want the world around us to move forward toward a better future, then we’re the ones who need to put in the work to get it there.

I’d like to share with you the causes that my husband, Steve, and I are passionate about and that we’ve been proud to support over the years.

Here’s What A Is For

Speaking as someone who does not have a uterus, I am honored to passionately defend the rights of those who do. I believe that gay rights and reproductive justice go hand-in-hand. If you care about freedom of self — the right to be who you are and live a self-determined life — then you should also care about bodily autonomy.

Let’s face it: If men were capable of pregnancy, there would be abortion clinics on every corner. If men risked death, physical disability, and infertility with every pregnancy, the right to an abortion would be absolutely untouchable. Pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period are the most dangerous times in a woman’s life — and the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country.

Not all those who seek an abortion are childless cat ladies (JD, I’m looking at you). If you have a septic uterus, an ectopic pregnancy, or an incomplete miscarriage and you can’t receive an abortion, you will almost certainly die. So many women have wanted pregnancies and end up requiring an abortion to save their lives, their health, and their future fertility.

Abortion care isn’t as accessible as it should be in part because of stigma, which is fueled by falsehoods. The first step toward achieving reproductive equality is to smash through the stigma — and that’s the entire focus of A is For.

This organization blends together social justice and the arts, working toward ending the stigma against abortion and advocating for full access to all types of reproductive healthcare. They also provide financial assistance to much-embattled abortion providers.

I’m thrilled to have had the honor of serving on the board of A is For since 2022 and to see firsthand how its initiatives have made a difference — from the Abortion Book Club to the Annual Broadway Acts for Abortion event, which in 2023, raised over $250,000 thanks in no small part to attendance by some major Broadway stars.

Visit A is For to learn more and get involved.

End the Backlog

Every 68 seconds, someone in the U.S. becomes the victim of sexual assault. Far too many never attain justice. Far too many never even report the crime. There are endless personal reasons for this, but one common reason for failure to report sexual assault is the very genuine concern that absolutely nothing will be done about it.

Did you know that the forensic evidence collected in rape kits quite often goes untested? There is a backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits. The Joyful Heart Foundation, founded by “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” actress Mariska Hargitay, works to end the backlog.

End the Backlog has been enormously successful in their advocacy work, with over 100 laws passed aimed at rape kit reform and well over $200 million allocated toward ending the backlog. But more remains to be done, and that’s why Steve and I are proud to donate to End the Backlog.

You can learn more about End the Backlog and get involved.

Color of Changehttps://medium.com/media/96345674e43b69f3085d51e30c0fd255/href

“White Americans desire to be free of a past they do not want to remember, while Black Americans remain bound to a past they can never forget.” –Nikole Hannah-Jones

In her book “The 1619 Project,” Nikole Hannah-Jones lays bare the many ways in which historic slavery and still-rampant racism have impacted and continue to haunt Black Americans. While I can’t claim to be an expert on the subject, I do passionately believe in promoting equality. Steve and I are proud to donate to Color of Change — a social justice organization.

Their mission is to influence policymakers toward creating a more just world and to empower everyday people to effect positive change throughout every level of society. Their team challenges injustice everywhere it’s found, working toward greater equality in the media, criminal justice system, economy, and of course, voting rights and politics.

Learn more about Color of Change here, including ways to get involved.

Broadway Cares a Lot — And Fights AIDS

Did you know that it used to be considered acceptable to engage in housing discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS? When I was a kid, my mom worked for the Housing Assistance Corporation on Cape Cod. She fought hard to help these individuals. I remember feeling so overwhelmed by the unjustness of it. The people she helped were dying, and they desperately needed a roof over their head, but landlords would turn them away simply because they had HIV or AIDS.

My mom taught me to turn anger into activism. Her experiences working with this community have made me particularly eager to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Steve and I take pride in donating to this organization because of their vital work.

As one of the nation’s leading nonprofit AIDS fundraising organizations, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supports people living with critical illnesses like HIV/AIDS, helping them access meals, counseling, and life-saving healthcare.

Every spring, True Crime Obsessed is proud to sponsor Broadway Backwards, a one-night performance event that celebrates LGBTQ+ voices and stories. Starting in 2006, the event initially raised about $7,000. In 2024, Broadway Backwards set a new record by raising over $900,000.

Learn more about Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and get involved.

The Center–The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

We consistently donate to The Center, which is a special place that welcomes everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. It is a cornerstone of the NYC Community, with its mission centered around providing a safe and affirming place for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers to respond to the urgent threats facing the community. Over the past 40 years, The Center has grown to meet the changing needs of New York’s LGBTQ+ community, delivering services that empower people to lead healthy, successful lives.

If you care about inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights, consider supporting The Center here. If you’re an NYC community member searching for a safe space to connect with others, they will welcome you with open arms.

Still Making Gay History

In order to truly uplift others, it’s important to try to understand them and their experiences. Eric Marcus, founder of the Making Gay History podcast, has worked so hard to give a voice to the historically marginalized and persecuted gay community. He’s been interviewing gay rights pioneers since the 1980s, creating an essential archive of first-person oral histories of the people on the movement’s front lines for equal rights that will continue to inspire and inform future generations.

Steve and I had the honor of meeting Eric, and when we discovered that his podcast isn’t ad-supported, we took it upon ourselves to become sponsors. We feel that it’s incredibly important to celebrate our community’s history and raise awareness.

Here is one of my favorite episodes, covering the Stonewall Riots:https://medium.com/media/4c758694edf11625fc3c7acc353bdce8/href

Listen to all episodes of Making Gay History here, and please consider making a donation.

Will You Join Us?

I was a poor kid. Growing up with our mom, my siblings and I were frequent beneficiaries of people who cared. Whenever we were in need, we were always met with kindness, and I promised myself then that I would give back to others in need whenever I could. Today, Steve and I often tell our ten-year-old daughter, Daisy, that those who have more than they need have a responsibility to give back to those who have less — and it doesn’t always have to be money.

If you can’t spare anything financially, consider giving your time and effort, be an ally, or just raise awareness about a cause or fundraising event on social media. Even simply listening to True Crime Obsessed is one way to show support, as we couldn’t donate and be effective advocates without our audience.

I know sometimes it seems like the world is just never going to get any better. But if you’ve read my book (“Failure Is Not Not an Option”), then you know that I’ve failed at almost everything I’ve tried to do. I believe it’s perfectly fine — and necessary, even — to look at a situation that seems impossible and to run full speed ahead toward it regardless.

So take a risk, make a stand, and give your life greater meaning by working toward making the world a little bit better for others.

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Curious about learning more about our advocacy efforts? Visit hindstiptonfoundation.org to learn more about our commitment to these causes and many more.

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