At 18, I started this blog to document my first bike tour – the UP Cycle – across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After that first tour, I decided to donate money to Gender Justice, a non-profit based out of Minnesota regarding gender-based violence. Now, at 22, I am no longer donating monetary funds to Gender Justice, but I am still cycling and writing. Through this blog I hope to expand knowledge on cycling, feminist issues, and gender inequity in the outdoor industry. By doing this, I hope to one day have a part in changing the culture of outdoor sports so that more women and nonbinary individuals are involved in the amazing sport of cycling.
UP Cycle Bike Tour Philanthropy: Gender Justice
"Gender Justice is a nonprofit legal and policy advocacy organization devoted to addressing the causes and consequences of inequality, both locally and nationally" (genderjustice.us). I chose Gender Justice because young women and those falling on the LGBTQ+ spectrum are more likely to be disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. I admire how Gender Justice acknowledges that gender inequality affects everyone, but they choose to focus on those who are most at risk - immigrant and low-income workers.
I am alarmed by the magnitude of gender-based violence crimes in the US and abroad against non-heterosexual women, as stated by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights through the European Union as reported by UN Women, due to cultural stigma and homophobic/transphobic/sexist ideals. After I have finished my ride across the Upper Peninsula, I will donate monetary funds to Gender Justice based in St. Paul, Minnesota to help improve gender justice and combat gender-based violence.
Gender Justice focuses on nine broad topics - economic security, education and Title IX, healthcare, housing equality, LGBTQ+, reproductive rights, sexual assault, trans rights, and workplace equality. I believe that it is essential to be intersectional when dealing with gender justice, feminism, and equality, because not everyone is afforded the same privilege.
"Gender Justice is a nonprofit legal and policy advocacy organization devoted to addressing the causes and consequences of inequality, both locally and nationally" (genderjustice.us). I chose Gender Justice because young women and those falling on the LGBTQ+ spectrum are more likely to be disproportionately affected by gender-based violence. I admire how Gender Justice acknowledges that gender inequality affects everyone, but they choose to focus on those who are most at risk - immigrant and low-income workers.
I am alarmed by the magnitude of gender-based violence crimes in the US and abroad against non-heterosexual women, as stated by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights through the European Union as reported by UN Women, due to cultural stigma and homophobic/transphobic/sexist ideals. After I have finished my ride across the Upper Peninsula, I will donate monetary funds to Gender Justice based in St. Paul, Minnesota to help improve gender justice and combat gender-based violence.
Gender Justice focuses on nine broad topics - economic security, education and Title IX, healthcare, housing equality, LGBTQ+, reproductive rights, sexual assault, trans rights, and workplace equality. I believe that it is essential to be intersectional when dealing with gender justice, feminism, and equality, because not everyone is afforded the same privilege.
Other equally RAD organizations and resources:
sistersong.net
alongwalkhome.org
metoomvmt.org
girlrising.com
therepresentationproject.org
momsdemandaction.org
fckh8.com
malala.org
mightygirl.com
girltrek.org
globalfundforwomen.org
seeher.com
seejane.org
nwhm.org
AnchorageGrit.wordpress.com
knowyourix.org
thirdwavefund.org
joantrumpauermulholland.org
everymothercounts.org
girlswhocode.com
girlsnotbrides.org
sheshouldrun.org
iwhc.org
promujer.org
sharedhope.org
womenscampaigninternational.org
blinknow.org
globalfundforwomen.org
camfed.org
womenforwomen.org
sistersong.net
alongwalkhome.org
metoomvmt.org
girlrising.com
therepresentationproject.org
momsdemandaction.org
fckh8.com
malala.org
mightygirl.com
girltrek.org
globalfundforwomen.org
seeher.com
seejane.org
nwhm.org
AnchorageGrit.wordpress.com
knowyourix.org
thirdwavefund.org
joantrumpauermulholland.org
everymothercounts.org
girlswhocode.com
girlsnotbrides.org
sheshouldrun.org
iwhc.org
promujer.org
sharedhope.org
womenscampaigninternational.org
blinknow.org
globalfundforwomen.org
camfed.org
womenforwomen.org
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ rights in the United States have improved through legislature, but they should be part of our natural, human rights. The Guardian in 2015 published an interactive graph that shows LGBTQ+ rights in the US by states and region - here. Additionally, check out this Vice documentary about kids being raised without gender in Sweden, where they legally have a third pronoun, a gender-neutral 'hen'. The future isn't female, it's everyone on the gender spectrum and intersectional.
LGBTQ+ rights in the United States have improved through legislature, but they should be part of our natural, human rights. The Guardian in 2015 published an interactive graph that shows LGBTQ+ rights in the US by states and region - here. Additionally, check out this Vice documentary about kids being raised without gender in Sweden, where they legally have a third pronoun, a gender-neutral 'hen'. The future isn't female, it's everyone on the gender spectrum and intersectional.