MEDIA CONTACT:
Rebecca Farmer, Movement Advancement Project
rebecca@mapresearch.org | 303-578-4600 ext 122
November 3, 2022 — Today the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) announced a $1.5 million gift from philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott. This is the largest one-time donation to MAP in its history.
“We are honored that MAP was recognized by MacKenzie Scott, and we are grateful for her investment in our work, particularly at this critical moment. LGBTQ people and their families are facing a dramatic increase in political attacks, harassment, and violence, and the basic principles of our democracy are under increasing threat,” said Ineke Mushovic, MAP’s Executive Director.
For more than 16 years MAP has helped power the LGBTQ movement through groundbreaking messaging research, insightful policy reports and analyses, and innovative movement building research and tools. The LGBTQ Equality Maps, for example, are a signature tool, tracking more than 50 laws and policies that impact LGBTQ people, and which provide a comprehensive equality profile for each state, D.C. and the U.S. territories. They are cited extensively by the media, used by policymakers and researchers, and relied upon by advocates for the most up-to-date tracking of the LGBTQ policy landscape. In recent years, MAP has expanded its focus to include a Democracy Maps program and a nondiscrimination public education initiative called Open to All. MAP’s work centers partnership and collaborations with the belief that the long-term success of movements is built on working together. To learn more about MAP’s approach, visit www.mapresearch.org
Scott’s gift comes amid a marked uptick in the breadth, speed and vitriol of anti-LGBTQ attacks—including laws that would separate families and charge parents with child abuse simply for supporting their transgender child. In 2019, not a single state had passed a ban on transgender kids playing sports with their peers. In 2020, that number rose to one state and today, 18 states have such laws. School boards in more and more states are seeking to ban books with LGBTQ content and those that talk frankly about the Holocaust or racism. In 2020, 22 states introduced school censorship bills; by 2022, 40 states had introduced such bills.
Similarly, the Democracy Maps program is working to support free and fair elections in midst of a rising tide of voter intimidation, election denialism, and threats of violence against election workers. The Open to All program builds collaborations to address discrimination in public accommodations, with a 2022 focus on tackling racial bias in retail.
“MAP powers progressive movements by developing transformative, rigorous research and communications that help people more easily understand and act on the critical issues we face,” said Chris Maggiano, Chair of the MAP Board of Directors. “Through a laser focus on changing hearts and minds, our work builds bridges across difference to advance equity and opportunity for all. With this one-time, unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott, MAP can bolster its policy resources at this critical time, and act boldly to advance the fight for LGBTQ Equality and safeguarding our democracy.”
>> Updated 11/14/22: Read MacKenzie Scott’s announcement.
