Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Dione Friends joined Equality Federation as Director of Communications in August 2019. Prior to joining Equality Federation, she spent eight years on the communications team at the ACLU of Texas, where she substantially grew their digital presence, communications capacity, and ability to reach people offline.
Media coverage often portrays rural America as singularly white, conservative and working-class. Yet at least 10 million people of color, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people of color, call rural America home.
15 states filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking them to rule against three individuals who were fired for being LGBTQ. The three cases include the first transgender civil rights case to be heard by the high court on October 8th.
The 22nd annual gathering of the Leadership Conference is here, who’s ready? Shortly, Equality Federation and Fairness Campaign will co-host over 200+ LGBTQ state and national movement leaders in Louisville, KY [press release].
July 17-20th, Equality Federation and Fairness Campaign will co-host the 22nd annual Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The conference is the premier gathering of LGBTQ movement leaders focusing on the crucial work of winning equality in state legislatures and local communities across the country.
This year’s Pride Month marks the 49th anniversary of Pride, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The nearly week-long protest took place in June 1969 in response to ongoing police raids at gay bars and clubs, and is now what most people consider to be the catalyst for the gay rights movement.
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.
July has arrived, and this year’s Summer Meeting will be here before we know it! Are you ready to come to Salt Lake City?Have you signed up yet? Make sure you click here to register before July 15 to guarantee your spot!
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.