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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National Day of Dignity and Respect on October 5

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.

September 19, 2013
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Obama Administration Continues Implementation of DOMA Decision With Changes to Military Veterans Benefits and ERISA

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.

September 19, 2013
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Stories from the States: OutFront Minnesota Releases Report About the Courts' Treatment of Transgender Minnesotans

Because transgender people so often experience discrimination at the hands of government institutions, many expect to encounter harassment and other challenges from our legal system. But a new study conducted by OutFront Minnesota and lawyer Ellen Krug found that many transgender Minnesotans report positive experiences with the courts.

September 18, 2013
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Member Resource: Policy Report on the Inequities Facing Transgender Workers

Across the nation, our members are working to ensure that transgender people are treated fairly and equally at work. They're advocating for employment nondiscrimination laws, inclusive healthcare policies, and employment benefits, procedures, and practices that honor everyone's gender identity and expression.

September 13, 2013
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Unsung Victories: Florida, Kentucky, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Missouri

State-based organizations across the country are making change in the communities we call home -- where the work is hard, but the impact is great. Nearly every week, we hear about another victory that provides LGBT people the protection, respect, and dignity they need and deserve. These wins build critical momentum in the fight for full and lasting equality -- but we don’t often hear about them. Far too often, they go unnoticed and uncelebrated by the broader LGBT movement.

September 11, 2013
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Stories from the States: Basic Rights Oregon Emerges As A National Leader in Racial Justice Work Within LGBT Movements

Many Federation members across the country are committed to a broad social justice agenda, working in their communities to end all forms of oppression.Over the past few years, Basic Rights Education Fund, the 501(c)(3) arm of Basic Rights Oregon, has become a national leader for their racial justice work within LGBT movements. Knowing that for decades, the LGBT movement left out the voices, experiences, and hopes of LGBT people of color -- Basic Rights Education Fund understood the need for real change and put racial justice at the top of their agenda.

September 11, 2013

Press Releases

Executive Director Betsy Smith Steps Down from EqualityMaine After 14 Years of Incredible Work

Executive Director Betsy Smith has been leading EqualityMaine for fourteen years. After securing many incredible wins for LGBT Mainers, she has announced that she will soon step down from her position. Before Betsy officially leaves the Federation family (though we'll always count her as one of our own), we wanted to learn everything we could from her work and experience. So we caught up with her to talk about her successful tenure at EqualityMaine.

August 28, 2013
FEDtalks Daily: John Smallwood of Fair Wisconsin--Watch Now!

Our final FEDtalk given at the Summer Meeting 2013 is from John Smallwood, Advocacy & Organizing Director at Fair Wisconsin.

August 26, 2013
FEDtalks Daily: Shannon McCann of Equality Utah--Watch Now!

Our ninth FEDtalk given at the Summer Meeting 2013 is from Shannon McCann, Intern at Equality Utah. 

August 23, 2013
Sam Nitz

Sam Nitz currently serves as the Data & Targeting Manager for EMILY’s List, using data and targeting to help elect more Democratic, pro-choice women to office across the country. Previously, he served as the Deputy Targeting Director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2010 and worked at political direct mail and polling firms.

August 22, 2013
More FEDtalks Now Available!

At this year’s Summer Meeting, we invited state leaders and our Federation interns to take five minutes to share a big idea, talk through an innovative strategy, or offer up an exciting concept. We called the presentations FEDtalks, and since the meeting wrapped, we keep getting requests to publish the videos online.

August 22, 2013
Aaron Welo

Aaron Welo is an at-large director and the Treasurer for the Equality Federation. He is currently an associate with Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis, where he practices in the firm's business litigation group on a variety of class and complex litigation matters.

August 22, 2013
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