We’re ready to help! CLICK HERE.
THE L-FUND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Since 2012, The L-Fund has provided emergency financial assistance to cis and trans lesbians in crisis across the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas. Wanting to help beyond emergencies, our programs have expanded to include education assistance, health and wellness aid, and grants for lesbian artists. Founded by lesbians for lesbians and the only organization of its kind in the country, we work closely with the community at large to improve the lives of our sisters. Find out more about us.
Why The L-Fund believes the word “lesbian” matters:
We hold strongly that preserving the word lesbian is important. This term allows us to more specifically name and value woman-defined relationships and the history of these relationships as it exists across all cultures. Additionally, we also understand the term lesbian as an active form of resistance to the erasure that often happens to us and our communities when the more generalized term “gay” is used—a term that in its popular usage refers primarily to gay men. We at The L-Fund use the term lesbian and define it to be inclusive of all those under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella who self-identify as women who love women.
PLEASE HELP WITH THIS URGENT REQUEST
The L-Fund is reaching out for your support with this urgent request to help us bring “Jackie”, a Jamaican lesbian in crisis, to the College of the Desert on a student visa.
Jamaica has long been known as a virulently homophobic country – a place where colonial laws that criminalize being gay are still enforced, and violence against and murder of lesbians and gays is rarely punished. It is commonplace for LGBTQ people in Jamaica to be bullied, physically and sexually attacked, thrown out of their homes and communities, and denied employment and services. In December 2020 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights published a report calling on the Jamaican government to stop its human rights abuses against LGBTI people, and to repeal laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. Despite this, these laws and practices remain in place still today.*
Jackie’s story sadly and shockingly confirms the horrifying conditions in Jamaica. She has been violently attacked and her partner was beaten to death for their loving relationship. And, her situation is even more desperate now that she has been outed. She is actually feeling grateful for the pandemic since it makes it easier for her to remain isolated inside her home where she feels some sense of safety.
Jackie has training in the field of health care and recently applied to the College of the Desert (COD) where she has been accepted beginning fall 2021 in their Health Sciences program. She dreams of studying and learning in an environment that is accepting and supportive of lesbians. She holds a similar dream for her adolescent child, who will accompany her into her new life here in the desert.
However, in order to make this happen, Jackie needs a student visa and housing. COD will apply for the student visa on Jackie’s behalf, but only if we can raise $11,000, the cost of her visa and tuition for the year. Jackie also must show she has housing for herself and her child for the time she attends school. A donated casita in the home of a lesbian would be an ideal situation for them, or housing would cost an additional $12,000 for the year.
The L-Fund is committed to raising the funds and finding housing for Jackie. Please support her and our mission with whatever generosity you can provide. Click the blue button below to donate to this special cause. If you can offer housing for Jackie and her child, please call Jan Alden, L-Fund treasurer, at 510-332-9707, or The L-Fund office at 760-304-8487.
$25 helps buy her school supplies
- $100 helps pay for her books
- $250 pays for one week of her visa and education OR housing
- $500 pays for one week of her visa, education, and housing
- $2000 covers one month’s full expenses
CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THIS URGENT SITUATION
*ACHR, Report No. 400/20. Case 13.637. Merits (Publication). Gareth Henry and Simone Carline Edwards. Jamaica. December 31 2020. Download the report.
MEET SOME OF OUR RECENT GRANT RECIPIENTS!
Briana Nieves
Growing up in Compton, CA., Briana feels privileged to attend Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree. Her mother was a nurse who loved her job and loved helping others. Losing her mother, Briana realized that she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a nurse. Briana is a sophomore and has been using the laptops at the campus library to do all of her class assignments and has managed to have a 3.8 GPA while also playing on the basketball team. The L-Fund Education Assistance Program (LEAP) provided Briana with a new laptop and headphones.
Comedian Shann Carr is a 22 year resident of Palm Springs who co-hosts a podcast called I Love Gay Palm Springs. She is also a Realtor, Entertainment Producer, Radio Host, and Community Organizer and wears countless other hats that include hosting and emceeing film festivals, cruises and comedy shows. When the pandemic hit our local community in early 2020, Shann found that many of her real estate transactions stalled and gigs dried up. To add insult to injury, her health insurance quadrupled. Shann, a volunteer and big supporter of The L-Fund since its inception, all of a sudden found herself as the one in need. She never imagined she would be a Health and Wellness recipient and was hesitant to ask for help but former Executive Director/CEO, Barbara Carpenter, insisted that she apply. Barbara told her, “If you don’t apply for help, I’m going to tuck money under your doormat from my own bank account!”.
Shann is grateful for The L-Fund and that the organization was there when she needed it the most. Financial assistance from the Health and Wellness programs helped her get quickly back on her feet. The L-Fund appreciates Shann and all of the hours she has donated to the organization so it was only fitting that The L-Fund was there for her.
Desiree Gutierrez
Lesbian in Need (LIN) recipient Desiree Gutierrez was facing eviction for her and her teenage son after moving to Palm Springs in search of a safer and open community. Upon applying to LIN, she was approved within 3 days for emergency rent assistance. Watch this short video to hear this single mother share how The L-Fund has helped her family. In her own words, “I can breathe now.”
OUR PROGRAMS
- Lesbians in Need (LIN): LIN offers financial assistance to cis and trans lesbians in crisis. Circumstances may include potential eviction, homelessness, loss of transportation, unhealthy or unsafe living conditions, food insecurity, and other high-risk mental, physical and emotional circumstances.
- L-Fund Education Assistance Program (LEAP): LEAP provides education grants of up to $2,500 per year for cis and trans lesbians in need to attend continuing education, certification classes, trade or vocational schools, community colleges and universities.
- Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts: The Debra I. Moore Grant for the Arts supports cis and trans lesbian artists working in any medium or genre, including visual artists, sculptors, musicians, writers, filmmakers, playwrights, performance artists, designers, and others.
- Health & Wellness Fund: The Health and Wellness Fund provides financial support for a variety of medical services and needs, including but not limited to: medical supplies, hearing aids, eye glasses, dental procedures, walking aids, mental health services, health insurance and out-of-pocket expenses for insured, uninsured, and underinsured lesbians.
The L-Fund exists only with the support of our generous donors.
Help us continue this important work.