For the second year the Legacy Gift Committee (LGC) recommended, and the Permanent Board approved, the disbursement of Bodine-Rustin funds. The Bodine-Rustin Fund has been established by NEYM to support LGBTQIA+ organizations in East Africa, Central and South America, India, the Caribbean, and North America. Out of concern for individuals and monthly meetings who, as a matter of conscience, cannot contribute to the financial support of FUM, NEYM provides a mechanism for monthly meetings to direct some portion of their contribution to the Yearly Meeting that would otherwise have gone to FUM, to go instead to the Bodine-Rustin Fund. Funds are distributed annually to organizations working for the well-being of LGBTQIA+ people, including Friends. Individuals and meetings can make gifts to this fund.
The total available in the Bodine-Rustin Fund for 2024 was $4,214.46. The Legacy Gift Committee, which administers the fund along with one of NEYM’s representatives to FUM, received six recommendations from meetings and individuals to support the organizations listed below, half of them for the second time. The subcommittee researched potential recipient organizations in order to verify that all were legitimate entities, get contact information, and learn the scope and focus of their work. This research helped LGC gauge the degree of need and potential impact of the funding. Legacy Gift recommended and Permanent Board approved the following individuals and organizations to receive Bodine-Rustin funds this year:
1. Friends Uganda Safe Transport, 2nd year
New legislation in Uganda passed on May 2, 2023, allows for life sentences in prison for taking part in homosexual acts. This is a well-established organization, founded by Quakers, with a great track record of helping people escape life-threatening situations in Uganda (and now life imprisonment) for being who they are. The situation in Uganda is now too dangerous to continue due to the high risk of life-threatening outcomes for recipients of the transport aid. FUST only wants a small, symbolic, amount of money this year to assist with winding things down. They would prefer that the Bodine-Rustin funds go to someone who is able to make a difference with it.
Contact: N/A
Funding Recommended: $114.46 in 2024
2. South Coast LGBTQ Network, 1st year
The Network was started in 2014 and serves the South Coast and South Shore areas from Providence, RI, to the Cape, and Taunton, Bridgewater areas. Engaged in a $1million capital campaign to buy and renovate a building for a community center offering activities, office spaces, dinners, meetings, etc. They focus on three main areas: LGBTQ+ youth, trans, and elders. They have had instances of Nazi violence in the last year and have been doing peace and disengagement training.
Contact: Andy Pollack, South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, PO Box 8473, New Bedford, MA 02740, [email protected],
Funding Recommended: $500 in 2024
3. Individual person in East Africa, 1st year
No background information is provided due to risk of targeted violence to the recipient. Funds will help connect the individual to a support network.
Contact: Frederick Martin, Beacon Hill MM, 20 Half Moon Hill, Acton, MA 01720
Funding Recommended: $2,250.00 in 2024
4. Trans Asylum Seekers Support Network, (TASSN) 2nd year
TASSN is a mutual aid collective that supports trans asylum seekers. They use the model of mutual aid, doing fundraisers, to get basic needs met for asylum seekers, like helping get green cards, funding rent, surgical transition and gender affirming medical care, etc.
Everything is bilingual and done in partnership with asylum seekers.
Contact: Lynnette Arnold, TASSN.; 4 Clifton Ave., Amherst, MA 01002, [email protected]
Funding Recommended: $650 in 2024
5. Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP), 2nd year
The Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP) is a small non-profit organization located in southern Vermont. Currently CASP accompanies 20 people seeking asylum in the U.S. All of these people are fleeing violence in their countries of origin. Violence against the LGBTQIA+ population is the driving concern for at least 25% of the population served by CASP. Its mission is to cultivate a supportive community for those seeking asylum in the U.S., while offering basic needs and accompanying them on their journey towards building a life in this country.
Contact: Kate Paarlberg Kvam, [email protected], CASP PO Box 1355, Brattleboro, VT 05302
Funding Recommended: $500 in 2024
6. J-FLAG, 1st year
J-FLAG is a human rights and social justice organization which advocates for the rights, livelihood and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Jamaica. The organization was founded in 1998. J-FLAG seeks to build a Jamaican society that respects and protects the rights of everyone, promoting social change, empowering the LGBT community, and building tolerance for and acceptance of LGBT people.
Contact: Glenroy Murray, Executive Director of J-FLAG, [email protected], (876) 667-6202
Funding Recommended: $200 in 2024