The Tegan and Sara Foundation
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Tegan and Sara Foundation

Tegan and Sara have created a new project to benefit and support women in the LGBTQ+ community.

31
The Tegan and Sara Foundation
"http://press.wbr.com"

Canadian musicians and openly gay twins Tegan and Sara have just gotten even more awesome, if you can believe that’s possible.

You may recognize the names Tegan and Sara because of their music. If you don’t, I absolutely recommend to you that you go look it up on the inter-webs right away. Over the course of the last several years and their last several albums, Tegan and Sara have made a name for themselves as strong, independent, and badass queer women with some ridiculously cool music videos, especially "Stop Desire."

Now they’re pushing the boundaries of their careers and using their talents to benefit some of their fellow queer folk, specifically often underprivileged girls and women of the LGBTQ+ community.

Tegan and Sara have created The Tegan and Sara Foundation, their newest project. “We started the Foundation to dismantle the systems of inequity that prevent LGBTQ girls and women from reaching their full potential,” they write on teganandsarafoundation.org, “Together, we can make a difference.”

In a letter written by Tegan and Sara addressing further the intention and inspiration for their foundation, they discuss how their career has been affected by sexism and homophobia.

“Our LGBTQ fans have supported us in innumerable ways,” they write. They go on to say that their project was inspired by their fans’ “personal histories of injustice and discrimination at home, school, work, and church.”

Tegan and Sara’s mission statement reads: “Our mission is to fight for economic justice, health, and representation for LGBTQ girls and women.”

They go on to explain how, during their North American tour of their album ‘Love You to Death,” they “met with local fans, youth activists, researchers, legislators, and nonprofits working tirelessly to promote LGBTQ equality.”

In listening and learning from the incredible people that Tegan and Sara met, they discovered the needs of the queer community and issues such as “lack of federal funding for LGBTQ services, limited training for doctors about the needs of their LGBTQ patients, and severe workplace discrimination are disproportionately affecting women.”

“LGBTQ women and girls are feeling overwhelmingly rejected and left behind,” the twins write.

They also highlight how LGBTQ+ women face disproportionately high poverty, health issues, and inequality.

Queer women of color, especially transgender women of color, are even further affected by these issues, perpetuated by racism and transphobia.

Tegan and Sara close their letter by writing,

“Through the Tegan and Sara Foundation, we can be proactive with our support rather than wait to react to discrimination as it occurs. We will support the work of other organizations who have been fighting for LGBTQ and women's rights by raising funds and awareness for their initiatives. We will fight against the repressive legislation of the incoming Trump administration. We will fight against regressive homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic legislation. We will fight for economic, racial and gender justice.”

Especially since this year’s election, as Tegan and Sara emphasize, it’s so important to fight for rights of the Queer community. It’s incredible to me how much is at stake, but it’s also pretty amazing to see how many people are ready to show their support, by any means necessary. Tegan and Sara, in creating this foundation, have demonstrated how important it is to take a stand for issues, and for lives, that matter.

While it is unclear what course of action Tegan and Sara plan to start with, I am looking forward to seeing their project develop. I am so pleased to witness the initiation of this foundation; it’s truly inspiring to see how easy it can be to make a difference in the issues that permeate our society.

I can’t wait to watch as Tegan and Sara fight, with passion and determination, against the hate, discrimination, and inequality that warps freedom and quality of life for LGBTQ+ women all over the world.

It’s wonderful to see more and more powerful women step up to protect our rights to health, safety, opportunity, and love. After all, as we all know, love is love.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

44975
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

28383
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

953005
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

156898
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments