Almost one year after we declared a national state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans, the political attacks on our community continue. Even as some state legislatures are ending sessions without passing the same level of anti-LGBTQ+ laws as last year, far too many discriminatory bans on books, on health care, on sports participation and on other basic freedoms continue to threaten our community. And over the next few months, we’re facing the most critical election in recent memory.

How we meet this moment of challenge will depend on where and how we show up to carry the movement for equality forward to victory. This year, the Human Rights Campaign is laser-focused on reigniting our movement and engaging LGBTQ+ people and our allies in the fight for our freedom and our future.

Our yearlong theme, “We Show Up,” embodies the unwavering determination, resilience and sheer force of will that have carried us through countless battles. It reminds us that we are not mere spectators in the struggle for justice but active participants and architects of change.

When we show up at schools, they become more welcoming. When we show up at workplaces, they become more inclusive. When we show up at Congress, it rejects discrimination. And when we show up at the polls, pro-equality candidates win.

In this critical inflection point for our movement and our democracy, it’s important to note that we are building upon the strides HRC has made under President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. From marriage equality to ending the ban on LGBTQ+ blood donors to protecting transgender service members, the Biden- Harris administration has been the most pro-equality administration in history. These accomplishments serve as proof that our fight has not always been this dire. As we stare down the threat of MAGA extremists seeking to erase these gains and turn back the clock on equality, the 2024 election is truly the fight of our lives.

Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of traveling this nation, meeting every facet of our movement, and here is what I know for sure: At the core of our mission lies a profound desire for a shift in momentum in the struggle for equality to nationalize our daily struggles and effect a fundamental change in how we perceive one another and ourselves. It is through this transformative lens that we can dismantle the oppressive systems that thrive by pitting one person's liberation against another. This work is not easy. It requires steadfast determination, resilience and unwavering compassion. It is a journey that spans generations, demanding our grit and faith in a better tomorrow.

We are not confined to the boundaries of a single year or the limitations of an election cycle. Our fight for equality extends far beyond those constraints. As we embark on this journey, let us remember the power we hold. Let us continue to challenge the norms, break down barriers and create spaces where everyone can thrive.

I am deeply grateful for all the change that your support has made possible, but I know that our work is just beginning. Together, we can embrace the challenges ahead with open hearts and unwavering determination. I am honored to struggle alongside you in this transformative journey, and I am confident that, when we show up together, equality will win.