Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Over the past few months, anti-transgender “bathroom bills” have been making their way through the legislative process in Florida, Kentucky, and Texas, and new ones have just shown up in Missouri. State-based organizations and individuals on the ground have been working hard to defeat these bills, which could have very real, harmful consequences for transgender and gender nonconforming people.
A broad and growing chorus of voices including human rights groups, over 30 law scholars, NBA star Jason Collins, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, SalesForce, and Gen Con - Indianapolis’s largest attended conference, is urging Indiana Governor Mike Pence to veto the discriminatory religious exemption bill, SB 101. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) also announced that its leaders are reconsidering having their convention in Indianapolis if SB101 becomes law.
This is a critical moment for our movement. While a positive marriage ruling from the Supreme Court is hopefully only weeks away, states across the country are facing a deluge of anti-LGBT bills, and over 200 million Americans currently live in states that only have a patchwork of nondiscrimination protections. Advocates in the South are at the front lines fighting for fairness and equality.
While anti-LGBT legislation makes its way through legislatures across the country, one state stands out as a beacon of hope. Already in 2015, the incredible team at Freedom Oklahoma fended off a whopping 17 discriminatory bills. We caught up with Executive Director Troy Stevenson to get an inside look at how they won.
Each year, the Equality Federation Institute holds the Summer Meeting to bring together the sharpest minds and the most strategic players in the movement for LGBT equality. More than 160 leaders join us to connect and forge relationships, collaborate for future success and build momentum toward even greater wins in the communities we call home.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr - the list of new avenues available to nonprofits to communicate their messages has grown tremendously, but that doesn't mean the rules that govern advocacy have changed. Do you know if your organization is following the rules?
Thanks for joining us! We know that you are working for LGBT where it's hard and where it matters most - at home - and we want to support your efforts in every way we can.
Do you have a resource that you think should be included in our Resource Library? Let us know!
Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. We're winning equality in the communities we call home.
Billfinder allows you to search for state and federal bills on any subject. We use it to find the text of bills relating to LGBT rights.To use the Billfinder, you need to enter a name and an organization, but that's all. You don't register or have to give them contact information.
Roey Thorpe is the Director of Advocacy Programs for the Equality Federation, the strategic partner to state-based organizations winning equality in the communities we call home. In this role, Roey works closely with activists to create plans and strategies to pass laws banning discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing, and public life.
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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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