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GenDemocracy

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GenDemocracy is a left-of-center activist group which argues for “advancing social justice at the intersection of gender and democracy.” 1 The group’s most visible activity is Stop the Coup 2025, a website opposing Project 2025, a right-of-center governing agenda plan. 2

Background

Founded in 2023, GenDemocracy is a left-of-center activist group whose stated goal is to “stop the war on gender, LGBTQ+ identity, diversity, and democracy,” in addition to advocating for more immigration and “racial equality.” 1 The group has described its work as countering “escalating rightwing attacks” in these areas. 1 The group refers to itself as a “progressive platform” with a focus on Africa and the United States. 1

The group, while claiming to be nonpartisan, has spoken out against President Donald Trump’s administration and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Before the election of President Trump in 2024, the group stated, “We’ll do everything we can to prevent a GOP victory, but even if Biden wins, the right wing won’t go away.” 3 The group has also claimed that the GOP has abused gerrymandering to limit ethnic minority votes. 3

The group has made several statements about faith and religion. The group has called the authors of Project 2025 a “very Bible-driven, heavily extremist Christian minority.” 3  The group has also advocated against “Christian nationalism,” connecting it to “older white evangelists.” 4 Moreover, the group called conservative activist Leonard Leo a “Catholic puppet master” behind Project 2025. 4 5

The group has also spoken out about Palestinian nationalism, writing that “Right-wing leaders have amplified a charge of anti-Semitism against pro-Palestinian protesters.” The group connects support for Israel to “Christian nationalists.” 6

Activities

The group’s primary activities involve public education, mobilization, and reporting, and they note that they work with U.S. Congress, unions, think tanks, and activists. 1 7 The group runs three campaigns: Resisting Project 2025 (or Stop the Coup 2025), Preparing to Survive Autocracy, and Dreaming Democracy. 1

The Preparing to Survive Autocracy project is part of the group’s Stop the Coup 2025 site, and Dreaming Democracy is a statement page on which the group says it “intend[s] to seek out and share the hope, work, and visions of pro-democracy groups.” 8 9

The group’s primary project, Resisting Project 2025 or Stop the Coup 2025 is a website run by GenDemocracy, primarily to counter Project 2025 and the second administration of President Donald Trump. 2 The group has claimed that Project 2025 is the “GOP Platform” and a “white supremacist vision.” 3 The site includes articles, a podcast, analysis of each section of Project 2025, and numerous “resources” about Project 2025 and how the editors of the site encourage readers to fight it. 2

The group has written that Leonard Leo is a major funder of Project 2025’s advisory groups and has claimed he has done so by “using hard-to-track dark money.” 5

The site’s articles are written by GenDemocracy founder Anne-christine d’Adesky. D’adesky attempts to connect President Trump to Project 2025 despite the President’s own claims that he is not affiliated with the project. 10 11

The group has made numerous claims about Project 2025, saying that “we are all targeted.” 3 The group claims that Project 2025 will lead to “autocracy” and eventually a “Christian theocracy” due to claims that the executive branch will have less oversight. The group claims that Project 2025 will “allow child labor” and will lower access to “birth control, the morning-after pill, and IVF.” Moreover, they have claimed that Christianity will be “the law of the land” and that the separation of church and state will abolished. The group has claimed that Project 2025 will bring back a “Trump Muslim Ban” and lower access to higher education. 12

The site also lists and links numerous left-leaning organizations for their readers to reference. These include Common Cause, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Transgender Law Center, the NAACP, UnidosUS, Planned Parenthood, and other groups. 13

The group is allied with the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, the Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch, the Center for Popular Democracy Action, the Center for Progressive Reform, Chromatic Black, the Council for Global Equality, Court Accountability, the Doñas Academy, Equality New York, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Gays Against Guns, LatinX+, Make the Road NY, the National Federation of Federal Employees, Political Research Associates, the Reclaim Pride Coalition, Rise and Resist, the Sero Project, True North Research, #Unify Movements, and VOCAL-NY . 14

Financials

The group’s primary project, Stop the Coup 2025, claims to be a “501(c)3 initiative of GenDemocracy” but instructs donors to make out checks to the Metropolitan Community Church, which it claims is its fiscal sponsor. 14 7

Leadership

The Founder of GenDemocracy is Anne-christine d’Adesky. The group’s site identifies her as a “feminist” and a “human rights, gender equality, and HIV activist.” She is a member of ACT UP and co-founder of Lesbian Avengers. 1

Jaw W. Walke works as the social media manager of Stop the Coup 2025. His bio describes him as a “queer Black leader.” He is the president of Gays Against Guns, co-founder of the Queer Liberation March in NYC, and one of the founders of Rise and Resist. 1 In an article by the TheBody, an HIV-related news source, Walke was quoted saying, “I recognize the fundamental threat that Project 2025 poses to everyone in this country who is not a straight, white, cisgender Christian male.” 15

The group maintains other staff to manage its projects. Juno Rosenhaus manages the group’s website and is the founder of Dyke+ Arthaus. Javier Morales is GenDemocracy’s Spanish Document Translator and is also the coordinator of Latinx+. Sally O’Driscoll is on the editorial team and is described as a “queer activist.” Saba Bando is the group’s volunteer coordinator. 16

References

  1. “Gendemocracy.” GenDemocracy. Accessed January 19, 2025. https://www.gendemocracy.org/.
  2. “Stop the Coup 2025.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 19, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/.
  3. “What Can I Do?” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/what-can-i-do.
  4. “Who’s Who among Christian Nationalists?” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/whos-who-among-christian-nationalists.
  5. “Follow the Dark Money.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/follow-the-dark-money.
  6.  “Middle East.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/middle-east.
  7. “Donate.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/donate.
  8. “Preparing to Survive Autocracy.” GenDemocracy. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.gendemocracy.org/preparing-to-survive-autocracy.
  9. “Dreaming Democracy.” GenDemocracy. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.gendemocracy.org/dreaming-democracy.
  10. Adesky, Anne-christine d’. “Resisting Project 2025: Anne-Christine d’adesky.” Substack. Accessed January 28, 2025. https://resistingproject2025.substack.com/.
  11. Serino, Kenichi. “Watch: ‘I Have Nothing to Do with Project 2025,’ Trump Says.” PBS, September 10, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-i-have-nothing-to-do-with-project-2025-trump-says
  12. “Take-Home Messaging about Project 2025’s Threats.” Squarespace. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6547d46ce0be13435001c0ad/t/66f9e791ec23625 cb6ca1bb5/1727653778689/9.24.24_Take+Home+Messages+about+Project+2025.pdf.
  13. “The Fighters.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/the-fighters.
  14. “Who We Are / Allies.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/about.
  15. Murphy, Tim. “HIV and LGBTQ Activists Spearhead Effort to Stop Project …” TheBody, July 23, 2024. https://www.thebody.com/article/hiv-lgbt-activists-stop-project-2025.
  16.  “Core Team.” Stop The Coup 2025. Accessed January 27, 2025. https://www.stopthecoup2025.org/core-team.
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