Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Now is the time for transgender equality, and more states are doing the right thing. They are no longer forcing transgender people to have surgery or obtain court orders in order to change the gender marker on their birth certificates.
Governor Daugaard of South Dakota has vetoed discriminatory legislation that would have prevented transgender students from using the facilities that match the gender they live every day.
South Dakota Governor Dauggard met with transgender students on Tuesday, February 23rd, just days before he needs to make a decision on signing an extreme, anti-transgender bill (HB 1008) that would require students to undergo DNA, Birth Certificate, or genital checks and force them to use restrooms and facilities that do not match the gender they live every day. South Dakota would become the first state to enact such a law if he signs it.
On February 22nd, after mounting pressure, SB1289 was pulled from consideration by its sponsor Senator Breechen before being heard by Senate General Govt. Committee. The bill would have prevented the people of a local community from passing their own laws.
Steve Knight, pastor of social justice and activism at Missiongathering Charlotte, spoke passionately in favor of the nondiscrimination ordinance passed by the Charlotte City Council on February 22nd.
Equality Federation extends a hearty congratulations to Federation member Equality North Carolina, HRC, MeckPAC and the TurnOUT! Charlotte coalition for making history tonight with Charlotte’s passage of nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in public accommodations, vehicles for hire, and in government contracting. And, thank you to the Charlotte City Council!
All of us at Equality Federation Institute are proud to welcome Andy Garcia as Program Manager. Andy has joined our nondiscrimination team and will work with veteran movement leaders Roey Thorpe and Anne Stanback to implement our expanded program focused on advancing policies that protect LGBT people from discrimination.
Our friends at the Victory Institute invite emerging LGBT nonprofit executives to apply to the 2014 Movement Leaders Fellowship.
All young people need to be in school and feel safe there in order to learn. That's why, at Equality Federation, we're committed to building safe and welcoming schools where students are free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and harsh discipline policies.
It's that time again! The State Equality Fund (SEF) has issued an open invitation for letters of inquiry (LOI). The Cycle 2 LOI deadline is January 27, 2014. This is your last opportunity to apply for 2014 funding!
The entire Equality Federation team is looking forward to connecting with our members, partners and friends at The Task Force's National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change!
Andy is Program Manager at Equality Federation, the strategic partner to state-based organizations working to win equality in the communities we call home. In this role, he strengthens the states working to pass local and state-level nondiscrimination laws by identifying and developing programs and resources, including legal and legislative support, communications resources, messaging, and constituency group expertise.
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.