Look for the Helpers: Protecting Our Rights

The Lavender Rights Project based out of Seattle, Washington is dedicated to organizing and protecting the Black intersex and gender diverse community by utilizing the power of the law. At a time when right-wing extremists seek to erase the trans community, the Lavender Rights Project works on multiple fronts to build a cohesive Black trans movement, advocate for policy reforms and protections, and provide essential services for the community. In their own words, “Trans liberation is not partisan—it’s non-negotiable…our leadership and resistance have always been at the heart of every justice movement.” Thanks to Aliko Weste for introducing us to this rad org!

Judge John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, is the first federal judge in the United States to block Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship (the right of any child born on American soil to receive U.S. citizenship). In his ruling, he upheld the 14th amendment (birthright citizenship) and called Trump’s executive order “blatantly unconstitutional.” Judge Coughenour was initially appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1981. We are grateful to the people of all political perspectives out there who are protecting the constitution!

Since 1999, the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights has provided legal defense and strategic litigation for immigrant children and adults in the U.S. facing detention and deportation. On April 2, Amica Center along with ten other immigrant advocacy organizations won a Temporary Restraining Order against the Trump administration in order to continue critical, congressionally-approved federal funding for legal services for unaccompanied immigrant children. You are heroes to so many innocent young lives—thank you for your work.

Diana Adams is the executive director of the Chosen Family Law Center, a law firm that helps LGBTQI+ and non-traditional families to create legal agreements. Chosen Family Law Center affirms the dignity of all families and helps to create legal structures to protect them from prejudice and erasure.

In South Africa, ProBono.Org is a legal networking service which serves all South Africans by pairing them with lawyers across the country offering pro-bono legal services. Thousands of people receive legal advice or have lawyers to represent them in civil cases regardless of means—everything from divorce to estate disputes to labor rights. The lawyers of ProBono.Org recently won a court case protecting multi-generational leases for dwellings in Woodstock and Salt River, two of the remaining communities of color close to the Capetown City Centre.

For every one misguided person trying to use the law to promote division, fear, resource extraction, and power imbalance in the world, we know there are countless more using the law to protect human rights and the rights of nature worldwide. We are grateful for your courage, your skills, and your passion for justice.

In a world filled with crises, there are always people helping. Look for the Helpers is here to shine a light on the countless ways people are protecting, restoring, and reimagining a more just and life-sustaining world.

We believe every act of care—whether through activism, community-building, or everyday kindness—matters. No one can do it all, but together, we are creating change. This is not only a space to find inspiration but also an invitation to join in your own way. Let’s be inspired by each other and take action, knowing that we’re not alone.

Some folks are helping protect other people, species, or places through actions like legal battles and boycotts. Some are building new and remembered ways of doing things - like regenerative agriculture, water management, restorative justice systems, and mutual aid. Some are focused on things like education and therapeutic care, so we can sustain these changes for the long haul.

We’re saying “yes” to all of it.

To the thousand caring faces. The thousands of ways we show every day that we give a damn about what happens to each other.

We believe no one can or needs to do it all, and all these ways of helping are essential to each other. Our movements and actions intersect.

Look for the helpers.