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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The Latest on Summer Meeting: Schedules, Lodging Details, and More

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.

July 2, 2014
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Supreme Court Gets It Wrong in Hobby Lobby Case

In an unprecedented decision this week, the Supreme Court ruled that employers can use their religious beliefs to deny their employees access to benefits that they are guaranteed by law to receive.

July 1, 2014
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By Just 147 Votes, LGBT Advocates Win Big in Pocatello

Seven cities in Idaho protect LGBT individuals from discrimination. But that number almost dropped to six — until advocates ran a robust campaign to keep the challenged law in place. In 2013, Pocatello, Idaho adopted a local nondiscrimination ordinance barring employers, landlords and most businesses from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

June 30, 2014
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Equality Federation Responds to Supreme Court Decision On Contraception Access

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its highly anticipated decisions in two cases that were brought by for-profit companies arguing that requiring them to include contraception in their employees’ health plan violates their religious liberty rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

June 30, 2014
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Summer Meeting 2014 Workshops Released!

The workshops at Summer Meeting 2014 are going to blow you away. All the topics you care about, all the speakers you want to learn from, all the opportunities you need to strengthen the work you're doing. Just check out our full list below!

June 25, 2014
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Get to Know Our New At-Large Board Members

Soon our board of directors will vote on three new at-large members: Michael Lewis, Julia Rosen, and Curtis Thornhill (the exceptional candidates we introduced to you just a few weeks ago). These incredible leaders will help to expand the board’s reach in order to better equip the Equality Federation and the Equality Federation Institute to be the strategic partner to the state-based movement.

June 25, 2014

Press Releases

Federation’s Executive Director Rebecca Issacs in the Wisconsin Gazette: “Winning LGBT Equality in the Heartland”

Last month, we welcomed an incredible group of state leaders to our Midwest Leadership Summit in Chicago.

December 2, 2013
State of the States Report Part 2: Staff & Boards Creating Social Change

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.

December 2, 2013
This Thanksgiving Consider Supporting Native American Protesters of the Dakota Pipeline

The gross irony that Native Americans are being abused by overzealous police during Thanksgiving has not been lost on Equality Federation. For this #SolidarityWednesday we encourage you to consider donating to one of the organizations supporting the protestors at Standing Rock in the Dakotas who are fighting to preserve the land and water for future generations.

November 24, 2013
Help Protect AB 1266 - The California School Success and Opportunity Act

In recent months, Assembly Bill 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act, was passed by both chambers of the California legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. This bill restates existing anti-discrimination law requiring that transgender students, like all students, be provided with a safe and supportive school environment where they can succeed.

November 20, 2013
Member Opportunity: The Trevor Project Needs Your Help Recruiting for Their Youth Advisory Council

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.

November 19, 2013
The New Federation Insider Offers Great Resources Just For Our Members

In June, the Federation launched a weekly "Members Only" newsletter for member staff and boards as well as a biweekly "Friends of the Fed" newsletter for our supporters, donors and friends. Over the past few months, we've gotten a wealth of positive feedback about our new communications, and we've also heard some great suggestions.

November 19, 2013
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Want To Make A Difference? Support Our Work

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.