Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
March 10th came and went without much fanfare, yet it was a milestone day for Equality Federation member Freedom Oklahoma. When the Oklahoma Legislature gaveled into session earlier this year, Oklahoma’s LGBTQ community faced a daunting challenge to overcome 27 anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation — many carried over from the previous legislation.
In state after state this year, opponents have used ever-evolving strategies to legislate anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The two most common strategies are religious exemption bills (so-called “religious freedom” bills) and bills focussed on restroom access.
Update: Equality Federation extends our deepest gratitude to the eight courageous Senators in Missouri who filibustered for a historic 39 hours to prevent a discriminatory religious exemption bill from moving forward in the legislature. SJ39 is a dangerous bill that would ask the voters of Missouri to amend their constitution to allow religious organizations and individuals to use their faith to legally justify refusing services and benefits to LGBTQ people.
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.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency that ensures the enforcement of federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate on specified grounds against a job applicant or an employee has announced two lawsuits alleging anti-gay discrimination.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael delivered a tearful floor speech in support of a “civil rights amendment” to an anti-LGBTQ religious exemption bill, #HB4012, to prevent the bill from being used to discriminate. The amendment passed, and on Wednesday, March 2nd, the entire bill was killed in a 27-7 vote.
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.
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.
Our eighth FEDtalk given at the Summer Meeting 2013 is from Troy Stevenson, Executive Director at Garden State Equality.
Our seventh FEDtalk given at the Summer Meeting 2013 is from Ali Vander Zanden, Political Director at EqualityMaine.
LGBT people have unique health needs – and face unique challenges when accessing the care they need. In New York, the team at Empire State Pride Agenda has been working for years to meet the needs and address the challenges faced by LGBT New Yorkers. Just this week, they released a new report that will improve the health and well-being of the state’s LGBT community for years to come.
Our sixth FEDtalk given at the Summer Meeting 2013 is from Randy Moore, Intern at South Carolina Equality.
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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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