WASHINGTON — Today, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, in partnership with the Biden-Harris administration, Made to Save and the National Cathedral will launch a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign for National Vaccine Month of Action. This initiative will mobilize LGBTQ affirming faith communities around the U.S. to maximize vaccination outreach during Pride Month activities, and will be a part of the White House’s vaccination plan of action and goal of 70% of adults receiving at least one vaccine shot by July 4.

As part of this campaign, HRC and the White House Office of Public Engagement is hosting a virtual launch where community members, faith leaders and media can learn more about the various initiatives and how to get involved. More information below.

HRC’s Religion & Faith Program will be hosting and supporting several events around the country to ensure faith communities get the resources and information they need to get congregants vaccinated. By leveraging HRC’s relationships with dozens of local LGBTQ affirming faith communities, and implementing vaccine initiatives, these communities’ vaccination rates could be significantly increased.

As the campaign begins, HRC’s principle responsibility will be to organize faith communities and provide support in liaising with local health departments and pharmacies in setting up mobile vaccination sites and public education events to help communities get fully vaccinated.

Currently, five mobile vaccination sites have been coordinated and several others are being scheduled:

• New York City, New York;

• • St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Saturday, June 26, 4-7pm ET,
  • Middle Collegiate Church, Saturday, June 26, 12-4pm ET
  • Washington, D.C.;
  • Foundry UMC, Saturday, June 12, 11:30-4pm ET, Mobile Vaccination Site

• St. Louis, Missouri;
  • Faith for Justice, Deaconess Foundation, Eden Seminary, St. John’s UCC The Beloved Community, Saturday, June 19, Mobile Vaccination Site

• Huntsville, Alabama;
  • Stomp out HIV, Saturday, June 26, Mobile Vaccination Site

There are disparities in confidence and comfort with the vaccines among LGBTQ people, particularly in BIPOC and bi+ communities, that underscore the need for community outreach and education. As the vaccine rollout began, the HRC Foundation and PSB Insights released “COVID-19 and the LGBTQ Community: Vaccinations and the Economic Toll of the Pandemic,” which underscores how LGBTQ people feel about the vaccine and how they continue to fare in the coronavirus economy.

The research, which was released in March 2021, showed that LGBTQ adults overall said they were “very likely” to get the COVID-19 vaccine (42%) in higher rates compared to the general adult population (39%). But major differences existed across LGBTQ adults, with only 29% of Black LGBTQ adults, 32% of bisexual women and 39% of Latinx LGBTQ adults expressing similar feelings. The research was released as part of the HRC Foundation’s vaccine public education campaign, “For Ourselves, For Each Other: Getting to the Other Side of the Pandemic.” This campaign is centered around educating the LGBTQ community, especially BIPOC LGBTQ people, addressing medical mistrust. Other vaccination resources from HRC were created as well, such as FAQs to address community concerns about vaccine safety and how to access the vaccine.

FOR ADVISEMENT: The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the White House Office of Public Engagement are kicking off the national vaccination campaign with a virtual launch where community members, faith leaders and media can learn more about the various initiatives and how to get involved.

WHAT: LGBTQ Affirming Faith Communities Vaccination Campaign Virtual Launch

WHO: Josh Dickson, White House Senior Advisor for Public Engagement

Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor, Cathedral of Hope, Dallas, TX

Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President

Michael Vazquez, Human Rights Campaign Religion & Faith Program Director

WHEN: TODAY, June 14, at 8:00 p.m. ET

WHERE: RSVP to Aryn Fields at aryn.fields@hrc.org for a joining link.

The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ community.