Introduction

The LGBTQ+ movement is under threat from state and non-state actors in rapidly evolving and complex ways ranging from federal and state legislation to the calculated disabling of service providers through online attacks, to deadly shootings. Coordinated state attacks and coordinated non-state attacks are escalating both in frequency and severity. Organizers, service providers, individuals, and families are facing a complex landscape in which threats are difficult to predict, anticipate, and respond to. Advocates in a variety of areas and professional levels are experiencing new or increased threats and harassment. Some such advocates (“professional advocates”) chose advocacy as their profession: attorneys and organizers at organizations focused on advancing some facet of LGBTQ+ liberation; public figures and spokespeople; and individuals in the field of legislative or political work. Others are professionals (“professional non-advocates") in other fields who find themselves similarly in the crosshairs of anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns: medical providers and therapists providing services to LGBTQ+ adults and young people; pharmacists who fill prescriptions; teachers and librarians who push back against anti-LGBTQ+ censorship and repression in their schools and libraries; and members of professional bodies like the AMA, APA, or WPATH. Still others are non-professionals (“non-professional advocates”) who face threats simply because of their own gender identity or sexuality or that of a family member, and whose professional life is unrelated to advocacy. It is crucial for employers to understand these threats in order to respond appropriately. When an organization receives complaints or reports about an employee due to such a harassment campaign, they often find themselves forced to scramble to devise a response, resulting in further harm to the targeted individual, including loss of livelihood. Understanding these trends and taking the protective steps outlined in this handbook can prevent these compounded harms.