In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline sit down with Fran Hutchins, Executive Director of the Equality Federation, to reflect on two decades of ballot measure campaigns, queer movement building, and the importance of doing the work before the spotlight hits. Hutchins shares lessons from marriage equality battles in Maine and California, the evolution of trans rights messaging, and the real meaning of cross-movement solidarity. With honesty and strategy, they explore what it takes to build durable power — and how today’s bodily autonomy fights can be a love letter to our people.
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In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Krithika Harish, Senior Program Officer for Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, about philanthropy’s role in building lasting movements. Krithika shares her path from civic engagement and international development to advocacy and institutional funding, then explains how transparency, and long-term relationships shape strong funder-grantee partnerships. They examine the role of ballot measures in advancing reproductive freedom, why early and sustained investment matters across the full life cycle of a campaign, how the funding landscape has shifted since the 2024 election, and why funders must reflect on the power they hold in shaping movements.
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In this episode of Direct Democracy Diaries, Chris and Caroline speak with Andy Marra of Advocates for Trans Equality and Jaelynn Scott of Lavender Rights Project about coordinated ballot measure and legislative attacks targeting transgender people. Andy and Jaelynn connect today’s fights to lessons from the marriage equality movement, discuss the importance of centering trans leadership, and examine what effective coalition work requires. They also explore cross-movement solidarity, storytelling rooted in freedom, sustained investment in movement infrastructure, and the need to build lasting political power while responding to immediate threats.
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