Gill Foundation Grants $500K to GenderCool to Help Trans Youth

The Gill Foundation will contribute $500,000 to the GenderCool Project, a youth-led movement helping to build acceptance and understanding of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth, GenderCool has announced.

The grant is intended to help GenderCool develop and execute a national public education and storytelling campaign featuring trans youth and their families, helping to counter attacks on these young people and raise awareness of the need for nondiscrimination protections.

This year has seen a record number of anti-transgender bills introduced in states around the nation and the passage of several of them. Most of the bills have sought to bar trans youth from competing in school sports under their gender identity or from receiving gender-affirming health care.

"We're honored to receive this grant from the Gill Foundation. It is a game-changing vote of confidence in our mission to help people understand how talented, driven, and kind transgender and nonbinary youth are, showcasing who they are as remarkable young people," said a statement released by GenderCool founders Jen Grosshandler, John Grosshandler, and Gearah Goldstein. "We're thrilled that these resources will help us do just that so GenderCool -- led by the incredible young people we call Champions -- can continue to make an impact changing hearts and minds."

NBC's Today show recently featured GenderCool, with Al Roker in conversation with four transgender teens in one segment and another about the organization's recently released Kids Book About series. Watch here.