When the System Fails Us, We Rise: Trans Rights, Civil Rights, Human Rights.

June 18, 2025

In today’s newsletter:

• A Fathers Plea: Protect Trans Kids from Hate.

• Juneteenth: A Call to Action.

• The Fight For Civil Rights Isn’t Over!

• How The Pink Tax Affects You.

• LA Uprising: Protesters Push Back Against ICE Raids.

• Thank YOU for Showing up for FSTV.

What would you do to save your child’s life? In this deeply personal and powerful episode of FSTV Speaks, Jon Stout—Impact Partnership Lead and co-founder of Free Speech TV—shares his family’s journey through fear, resilience, and love after his child came out as transgender. With over 850 anti-trans bills introduced in 2025 alone, this is a call to action for anyone who believes in dignity, safety, and freedom for all kids. 💬 Watch. Reflect. Speak up. Be the ally our youth deserve.

Trans Youth Emergency Project: TransYouthEmergencyProject.org | Advocates for Trans Equality: TransEquality.org | Transgender Law Center: TransgenderLawCenter.org | Gender Liberation Movement: GenderLib.org | ACLU: ACLU.org/Issues/LGBTQ-Rights/Transgender-Rights | Erin Reed's Substack on Trans Policy News: ErinInTheMorning.com

Juneteenth isn’t just history—it’s a call to action. At Free Speech TV, we honor Black freedom fighters—past, present, and future. The struggle for justice continues, and so does the hope. This Juneteenth, we amplify the voices demanding liberation for all. ✊🏿 Stay loud. Stay proud. Stay with FSTV.

Five years after the murder of George Floyd forced America to face its long history of racial injustice, we’re seeing that hard-fought progress under threat, from the MAGA movement dismantling civil rights protections. To a recent executive order that could let agencies ignore anti-discrimination laws. But this isn’t the end of the story. A new civil rights movement is rising—youth-led, justice-fueled, and unapologetically bold. Groups like Get Free are on the frontlines, working to repair past harms and protect the freedoms our communities deserve. Take Action Now.

Sign the petition demanding Congress defend our civil rights: http://bit.ly/CivilRights2025 

They pay us less and charge us more?! Make it make sense. In this episode of Generation Girl Code, we’re breaking down the Pink Tax—and no, it’s not as cute as it sounds. From overpriced razors and lotions to the outrageous reality that menstrual products are still taxed like luxury goods in many states, this is economic discrimination dressed up in pastel packaging. Did you know women’s products cost, on average, 7% more than men’s—even when they’re practically the same? Or that people who menstruate can spend up to $6,000 in a lifetime just managing their cycles? This isn’t just about price tags. This is about power.

Los Angeles is rising up. As mass street protests erupt in response to sweeping immigration raids, local police and U.S. Border Patrol are cracking down, joined now by the California National Guard at the Trump administration’s request. Ron Gochez of Unión del Barrio, one of the organizers behind the resistance, describes the intensity on the ground: tear gas, flashbangs, and militarized repression. But despite the show of force, protesters are making a real impact, blocking ICE agents and stopping arrests. “If we organize, if we resist, we can protect our communities,” Gochez says. This is what people power looks like.

To everyone who showed up for Free Speech TV during our Summer Pledge Drive - Thank You.

In a time when the headlines are heavy and the noise never lets up, you made a powerful choice: to support independent media that speaks truth, lifts frontline voices, and refuses to be silenced. That choice means everything to us.

While we didn’t hit our fundraising goal, we gained something just as vital - momentum. What we saw was a groundswell of community, of care, of people who believe in the power of fearless media to challenge injustice and spark change.

Goals come and go - what endures is the movement we’re building together, and this movement is growing because of you.

We’re grateful beyond words for every donation, every message of encouragement, and every act of solidarity. You remind us that we’re not alone, that this work matters, and that together, we are building something that lasts.

The fight for truth-telling, justice-driven media continues. We’re honored to be in it with you.

Thank you for being part of the Free Speech TV community. Let’s keep going, together.