11:35, 03 July 2026
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
Intersectionality has always been important, and with every passing year it becomes more so - something the founders of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice know all too well.
Set up by a small group of women in 1977, the Astrea Foundation is dedicated to a world made colourful by diversity - where anyone can exist, happily and unprosecuted, as the person they were meant to be.
To this end, the team behind Astrea, which was started in the United States but now has a global reach, put a heavy emphasis on the place where sexuality and gender identity intersect with other identities. Whether that is the country you are from, your physical abilities, or something else; all of this can change the way you experience the world.
“We envision a world where all people can actively and enthusiastically belong, regardless of their sex, sexuality, gender, bodies, dis/ability, race, class, nationality, migration status, or any other aspect of identity or circumstance,” says the Astrea website.
The LGBTQIA+ community and giving back has always gone hand in hand - in fact, we and some of the biggest experts in the community did a whole talk just about that - and queerness remains at the centre of how Astrea operates.
The Astrea Foundation prioritises those parts of the LGBTQIA+ community which have the least access to funding and assistance from other sources; often, this is trans*, intersex, and lesbian people. When these identities intersect with other marginalised identities, such as being a person of colour or disabled, the challenges faced can become even more difficult; something the Astrea Foundation remains ever mindful of.
Over the nearly 50 years that Astrea has been operating, they have developed and upheld four pillars which they use to guide their work. They invest in people with limited funding who can make big changes, advocate for improved philanthropic resources for the LGBTQIA+ community, amplify queer voices, and propel the LGBTQIA+ community into leadership and changemaking positions.
What remains key, and what sets the Astrea Foundation apart from other organisations, is that they remain embedded within the LGBTQIA+ community, and keep that community focus no matter what they are working on. By centering the community in all that they do, the Foundation keeps their ethos of protecting and standing up for LGBTQIA+ people, ensuring they are of benefit in everything the charity does.
“From the beginning, the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice has been radical in the truest sense: rooted,” said Joy Chia, the Executive Director of the Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. “Rooted in our North Star of collective liberation. Rooted in communities who have always understood that the world was not built for us; and that we have to rebuild it for ourselves."
The LGBTQ+ community has never needed an excuse to take care of their own, like many marginalised groups. Though the Astra Foundation started with lesbians, and honours them still in their name, the charity supports all members of the community, no matter which letter - or how many - they identify with.
Despite being a large charity that operates in multiple countries, the Astrea Lesbian Foundation for Justice feels like a small charity. There is such care in all that they do that - perhaps something that comes with the personal stakes of being part of the queer community. Yet, it’s more than that. Astrea truly believes that everyone they work with is deserving of help, of a world where they can be safe and free, and everything they do is to that end.
Astrea not only funds grassroots movements, living and working within the trenches of oppression, but provides real support.
Calling their partners "brilliant and brave”, Astrea stands with their grantees in all the ways that count, creating a global community united with one goal - equity, within intersectionality. Diversity that unites instead of divides, and a world where everyone is safe in their true, authentic existence.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. This US-based foundation funds LGBTQIA+ grassroots movements around the world, with a focus on communities that face multiple forms of discrimination. By investing in queer, trans, intersex and lesbian-led organisations to help drive intersectional justice and long-term social change. Learn more here.
Stonewall. This UK charity campaigns for the equality of LGBTQ+ people through advocacy, research and workplace inclusion programmes. Discover their work here.
Outright International. This US-based human rights organisation works with LGBTQIA+ activists across the globe to advance equality, challenge discrimination and strengthen local movements. Its work spans advocacy, research and direct support for organisations defending LGBTQIA+ rights. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Reduced Inequalities.
