News & Resources

Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.

The Latest

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Businesses Serving the Public Should be Open to All

When two-year-old Katie fell and knocked her tooth out, her mom, Jane, did what any mom would do, she rushed her crying, bleeding child to the dentist. But when she arrived, the dentist told her, “A child cannot have two mothers so the ‘real mom’ has to be here.”

December 8, 2017
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Watch: Why We're Fighting HIV Stigma and Criminalization

December 4, 2017
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Giving Tuesday: Support Our Movement!

Today is #GivingTuesday, a national day of charitable giving, and we need you to support the state-based LGBTQ resistance.

November 28, 2017
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Honor Trans People on November 20 and Every Day

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of people who were killed in acts of anti-transgender violence. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999.

November 20, 2017
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Freedom Oklahoma targeted by gunfire over the weekend

In 2017, there have been multiple attacks, drive-by shootings, and episodes of vandalism targeting LGBTQ advocacy organizations and community centers in New Jersey, Florida, and Tulsa. Freedom Oklahoma appears to be the latest victim. When the cleaning crew arrived on Sunday morning they discovered bullet holes riddled across the glass wall which serves at the entrance to Freedom Oklahoma’s office.

November 16, 2017
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Transgender Candidates Make History! [updated with more]

Update: Raven Matherne won a seat on the Stamford Connecticut Board of Representatives and is believed to be the city's first openly transgender lawmaker.On Tuesday, November 7th EIGHT transgender candidates made history!

November 9, 2017

Press Releases

Everything You Need to Know About Summer Meeting (so far!)

Equality Federation Institute’s annual Summer Meeting is the premier gathering of state-based and national LGBT movement leaders. More than 150 advocates from across the country gather to connect and forge relationships, collaborate for future success and build momentum toward even greater wins in the communities we call home.

April 10, 2014
Member Resource: National Center for Transgender Equality Releases Report To Improve Conditions for LGBT Prisoners

In a country that incarcerates more of its people than any other in the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are more likely to end up behind bars, and even more likely to face abuse while there. To address the issues and harms faced by LGBT prisoners, and to give activists and allies tools for working to improve jail and prison conditions for these individuals, the National Center for Transgender Equality has released an excellent new resource: Standing with LGBT Prisoners: An Advocate’s Guide to Ending Abuse and Combating Imprisonment.

April 9, 2014
Recent Polls Show Record-Levels of Support for the Freedom to Marry from the Republican Party

With 17 states and Washington, D.C. allowing same-sex couples to share in the freedom to marry, a major shift in attitudes within the Republican party is increasingly emerging. In a recent memo from Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, they cite a surge in support coming from Republicans of all ages, as conservatives across generations are changing the way they think about marriage for same-sex couples.

April 9, 2014
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Announce Eligibility and Enrollment for Same-Sex Spouses

Just this past week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took the latest step in implementing the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) with its announcement that same-sex spouses will be recognized in administering several aspects of the Medicare program, regardless of where the couple lives. Now that Medicare is no longer prevented by DOMA from recognizing same-sex marriages for determining entitlement to, or eligibility for, Medicare, CMS is working with the Social Security Administration to conduct eligibility determinations and to enroll seniors and individuals with certain disabilities in the program.

April 9, 2014
Member Opportunity: Management Center to Offer Training at Summer Meeting 2014

Summer Meeting 2014 is coming together, and it's going to be the best one yet -- especially with the newest addition to the program.This year, the Equality Federation Institute is proud to offer a special opportunity for member organizations -- a free fast-paced crash course in the basics of effective management.

April 8, 2014
After Years of Tireless Work, Maryland Secures Nondiscrimination Protections for Transgender People

It took years of organizing and lobbying and coalition building and storytelling. But soon, the Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2014 will become law.

April 2, 2014
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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.