Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
This year, we’re celebrating more than family, friends, food and exciting progress in the fight for LGBT equality. Why? Because December is also about health. Your health. Your family’s health. Your friends’ health. Our community’s health.
In West Virginia, the LGBT community remains hidden far too often. The stories of individuals facing employment discrimination as they work hard to earn a living, of couples struggling to take care of one another because they’re denied the freedom to marry, have been left untold for far too long.
Since 2006, the State of the States report by the Equality Federation has documented the strength and sustainability of state-based advocacy organizations that advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
I remember when I first became Executive Director at Equality North Carolina; like most Executive Directors, I was facing a number of substantial gaps in my skill set. While I had learned a lot about state politics and built a good network in the state, I had no idea how to read a financial statement, and managing staff was a brand new challenge for me. There were even some things I didn't realize that I didn't know.
Since 2006, the State of the States report by the Equality Federation has documented the strength and sustainability of state-based advocacy organizations that advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
Last month, we welcomed an incredible group of state leaders to our Midwest Leadership Summit in Chicago.
Julia Rosen is the Digital Director at ActBlue, where she brought a decade of online organizing experience on both electoral and issue campaigns. She comes from MoveOn.org, where she served as a Campaign Director, helping lead their electoral efforts, multi-issue advocacy and fundraising.
Michael Lewis is a Director at PepsiCo, Inc. and works in marketing on their North America beverage business. He started his marketing career in the consumer packaged goods industry over a decade ago at Procter & Gamble and has also worked in marketing for Teach For America.
Curtis Thornhill is the CEO and Founder of Apt Marketing Solutions, an organization that creates tools and services to help marketing teams improve the visibility, accountability, and effectiveness of marketing programs.
Jenn is the Program Associate at Equality Federation, the strategic partner to state-based organizations winning equality in the communities we call home. In her role, she strengthens our major donor program — from managing a portfolio of our current donors to communicating with prospective donors.
In the 2012 election cycle alone, an estimated 25,000 transgender people were disenfranchised by strict new voter ID laws in just 9 states. With one-third of transgender people nationwide unable to update any of their voting IDs, this is a critical issue our movement must address.
Looking for a concrete, meaningful project to engage activists in your state? Consider helping to grow the list of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Or use the list to help find allies in key districts you may be targeting for nondiscrimination campaigns.
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With your support, we'll be able to continue our work to build the leaders of today and tomorrow, strengthen state-based LGBTQ+ organizations, and make critical progress on the issues that matter most—like protecting transgender people, ending HIV criminalization and ensuring access to care, and banning conversion therapy across the country.
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