Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Later today, House Republicans will meet to discuss the future of immigration reform. They have a choice.
Our members are always finding new and exciting ways to raise the dollars they need. From clever campaigns to effective events -- we consistently see state groups exceed their goals, deepen relationships with their supporters, and fund the fight for equality.
The Equality Federation Institute is proud of the diverse group of sponsors supporting our Leadership Conference this year in Portland, Oregon. The annual Leadership Conference brings together LGBTQ leadership from around the nation for 4 days of planning, presenting our successes and challenges, and fellowship in order to guide and build the movement for the next year and beyond.
Last week's historic Supreme Court decision striking down DOMA changed our country and our movement. But after the celebrations, we were all immediately left with questions. What impact would DOMA's demise have on same-sex couples in states across the country?
Within minutes of the Supreme Court's ruling to end the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), President Obama committed his Administration to the swift implementation of the Justices' decision. In the days following the historic ruling, federal agencies have released statements, announced new guidance, and confirmed updated policies with regard to legally married same-sex couples.
On Wednesday, just 30 minutes after the Supreme Court announced its decision striking down section 3 the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, a New York judge halted the deportation of a Colombian man married to a gay American citizen.
Founded in 1984, EqualityMaine is the largest LGBT organization in Maine, with a $500,000 budget and 5.25 FTE staff. It is headquartered in Portland, ME, with a satellite office in Brewer ME. The Executive Director will lead this highly respected and historically successful organization into its new future, following the passage of marriage equality in Maine in 2012.
Too often, LGBT immigrants are forced into two closets — one because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and the other because of their immigration status. At the Federation, we believe that it’s time for all immigrants, including at least 267,000 LGBT immigrants, to be able to come out of the shadows. And we believe that our members can be a powerful voice in helping this dream become a reality.
Great organizations need great leaders — and they need them to stick around a little while. For years, the turnover rate in our statewide LGBT advocacy groups has been high, and in 2010, Equality Federation Institute identified this challenge as one of our organizational priorities. Committed to addressing this turnover, particularly among executive directors, we began tracking executive tenure and rolling out new programs to help ensure that state leaders were thriving.
Earlier this month, Equality North Carolina welcomed Christopher Sgro to their team as their new Executive Director. We were able to catch up with Chris to learn more about his experience and his hopes for his new position at Equality NC.
The Obama Administration is continuing to implement the Supreme Court's landmark decision striking down Section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In the months since the June ruling, federal departments have issued guidance and policy updates further detailing the far-reaching impact of DOMA's demise.
On October 5, more than 80 cities across the country will host marches and rallies for the National Day of Dignity and Respect in support of immigration reform. Immigrant communities in America as well as faith, labor, and civil rights groups will join together to call on Congress to pass immigration reform in 2013.
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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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