Looking Back and Looking Ahead
Although I've never been a big believer in setting New Year's resolutions, I do believe that this month is the perfect time to contemplate what we've accomplished, and to look ahead at the work still left to do. 2025 brought us many things to celebrate.
As an organization, we attended eleven pride events throughout the state, connecting with our community and celebrating the legacy of pride.
We launched our new Storytelling series, where folks shared their stories at vulnerable depth to the broader community. Through these events, our community helped educate neighbors and community members about LGBTQIA issues, build a strong sense of connection between all, and empower those within the queer community to advocate and share their stories in meaningful ways. We're excited to bring these into 2026.
603 Equality also kicked off our De-Escalation Trainings in 2025 - offering bimonthly trauma-informed safety trainings to small groups. The trainings scaled from verbal de-escalation to light self-defense, with a focus on exiting a dangerous scene with minimal impact. This program helped to empower those within the LGBTQIA+ community to build mental, emotional, and physical strength and resilience through a trauma-informed lens. They also helped build community and give folks the tools to pivot out of dangerous situations in real time. We'll be continuing these into 2026, and bringing these programs throughout the Granite State.
We engaged 413 folks directly with our programming in 2025, and thousands more at Pride events. We grew our reach online and connected with people in-person throughout the state. We hope to grow our community even more as we enter 2026.
We attended and tabled at 12 events hosted by our amazing community partners. These enabled us to build bridges and recognize the intersectionality of issues and identities.
In 2025, we expanded our grass roots fundraising base, allowing us to grow our programming and make thoughtful investments in the work we do.
We ended 2025 with hiring our first Executive Director: This decision will enable 603 Equality to make more strategic moves in the state with advocacy and programming, to further our impact.
And now to look ahead:
We'll need your help to accomplish our goals for 2026. Here are three things you can do to help us build a New Hampshire where LGBTQIA+ people, across identity, have the safety to live authentically, with access to care and community.
First, stay engaged with the political process.
Stay informed and stay loud about the issues that matter to you. Follow our policy page, and check out our new advocacy toolkit to learn how you can best engage with New Hampshire's political process. We have three action items on our Current Actions page that you can do right now.
🌈Help enshrine marriage equality in the NH State Constitution on Wednesday, January 21st. Find details and links on our Current Actions page.
🌈Urge Governor Ayotte to Veto SB268 which if signed into law would legalize discrimination for bathrooms, locker rooms, sports, and prisons on the basis of "biological sex." Find details and links on our Current Actions page.
🌈Comment on Potential HHS Rule Blocking Trans Youth Care by February 17th. Find details and links on our Current Actions page.
Second, be in community.
Show up to LGBTQIA+ events in the state (not just the political ones!) and be in community with the folks who matter to you. Community is fuel for your soul. Check out our events page for upcoming opportunities.
🌈Visit us at the 44th Annual MLK Day Community Celebration on Monday, January 19, 2026 from 11:00 AM 4:00 PM at Memorial High School in Manchester, NH. Find details on our events page.
Third, support our work.
Share our posts on social media, talk to your neighbors and your friends about the issues that need action, and if you can, donate.
I will leave you with the last few lines of Audre Lorde's poem: A Litany for Survival
and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
So it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive.
In hope and pride,
Aimee Terravechia (she/her),
Executive Director
603 Equality
