Mutual Aid: What this is, Why it Matters, and How to Get Involved"

Morgan Messick
Jul 29
5 min read

In the face of deepening inequality, mutual aid is more than a buzzword - it’s a lifeline.

Mutual Aid is a way for us to help each other without relying on institutions to save us.

While national conversations about advocacy and systemic change heat up, one thing is clear: we can’t wait for institutions to save us.

Communities are stepping up for each other. Especially in LGBTQIA+ spaces, mutual aid is becoming a vital response to state cutbacks, rising costs of living, and anti-queer legislation.

But what is mutual aid, really? How does it work? And why has it become such a crucial tool for the LGBTQIA+ community? Let’s break it down and show you how to get involved today.

What Is Mutual Aid?

Mutual aid is a community-based support system where people come together to meet each other’s needs. It’s organized by ordinary people - often in response to crisis, neglect, or systemic failure - not by institutions or through red tape.

It can look like covering rent, offering rides to medical appointments, sharing food, or running a fund to help trans people relocate to safer states. These aren’t one-way acts of charity - they’re collective strategies for survival. Mutual aid is built on solidarity: the belief that care should be mutual, accessible, and unconditional.

What sets mutual aid apart from charity is power.

Charity is top-down: It controls who gets help and under what conditions.

Mutual aid is horizontal: Everyone contributes what they can, and everyone deserves support - no qualifications required.

The idea isn’t new. Mutual aid has deep roots in Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and queer resistance movements. From the Black Panther Party’s free breakfast programs to HIV/AIDS activist collectives, grassroots networks have long filled the gaps that systems ignored (or created).

That legacy continues today. As institutions fail to protect the most vulnerable, mutual aid remains a critical way LGBTQIA+ communities protect and sustain each other.

LGBTQIA+ Communities & Mutual Aid

For many LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are trans, Black, undocumented, or disabled, mutual aid isn’t just helpful - it’s essential. Traditional safety nets like housing programs, healthcare systems, and employment protections often exclude or actively harm queer and trans individuals. When those systems fail, mutual aid steps in.

Discrimination in housing and employment makes it harder to access stable income or secure shelter. Many healthcare providers lack training - or compassion - when it comes to LGBTQ+ needs. Legal protections vary widely by state, and in many places, they’re being stripped away entirely. These systemic barriers leave gaps that community-based support has to fill.

That’s why mutual aid plays such a central role. It offers immediate, person-to-person care with no strings attached. Funds to help trans people flee unsafe environments. Rent and utility support when jobs fall through. Emergency medical assistance for those denied coverage. For many, these networks are the only place to turn.

Mutual aid is how LGBTQ+ communities take care of each other, build power, and survive in a system that was never built for us.

Mutual Aid In Action

Across the country, LGBTQIA+ organizers are building systems of care that meet real needs, fast. Here are a few examples of mutual aid in practice:

Trans Lifeline – Mutual Aid Resources

A trans-led organization that offers crisis support, along with links to emergency funds for housing, healthcare, relocation, and more.

Mutual Aid Hub

An interactive map where you can find grassroots groups by location. Many are queer- or trans-led and focused on hyperlocal support.

GlobalGiving’s LGBTQ+ Mutual Aid Network

A centralized space for donating to vetted grassroots LGBTQ+ organizations around the world.

Community-Led Efforts

In cities across the U.S., you’ll find decentralized mutual aid groups raising funds to cover rent, gender-affirming care, and transportation. Many use simple tools - Venmo, Google Forms, Instagram stories - to connect and redistribute resources in real time.

These aren’t nonprofits with offices and overhead. They’re grassroots networks built by people who know what it means to go without - and what it means to have someone show up.

How You Can Participate

You don’t need to be an organizer or have money to be part of mutual aid. There’s a role for everyone.

If You Need Support:

● Start local: Use tools like Mutual Aid Hub to find groups in your area. You can also check social media, community centers, or LGBTQIA+ Discord servers and forums.

● Be clear and honest: If you’re requesting help online, briefly explain what you need, how funds will be used, and how people can send support (Cash App, Venmo, etc.).

● Stay safe: Share personal info only in trusted spaces. Some mutual aid groups offer anonymous submission forms to protect your privacy.

If You Want to Help:

● Donate directly: Even small amounts matter. Look for vetted fundraisers or individuals who’ve shared their needs.

● Amplify: Share posts, retweet needs, and help boost visibility - especially for folks with smaller platforms.

● Offer what you have: Skills like transportation, graphic design, translation, or legal help can be just as valuable as money.

If You Want to Organize:

● Start small: Mutual aid doesn’t have to be big to be effective. You can begin with a group text, a neighborhood meeting, a shared spreadsheet, or a recurring food drop-off.

● Learn from others: Use guides like AFSC’s Mutual Aid Toolkit or connect with experienced organizers for advice.

● Build for sustainability: Set boundaries, delegate tasks, and make sure your group centers care - for others and yourselves.

Resources & Next Steps

If you’re ready to take action, here are some trusted places to start:

Mutual Aid Tools & Directories

● Mutual Aid Hub: Find mutual aid groups by location. You can also locate resources in your specific state by entering “Mutual Aid, My State” in your search bar.

● AFSC: How to Start a Mutual Aid Network: A practical guide for building community support.

● GlobalGiving: What Is Mutual Aid?: Overview and international context.