Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Equality Federation is deeply concerned that Donald Trump has surrounded himself with a team of individuals who actively support the denial of LGBTQ equality and promote racism, xenophobia, and misogyny. Together with our state-based equality group membership we are prepared to defend our hard-fought gains at every level.
Update: Senator José Rodríguez has introduced a comprehensive nondiscrimination bill, SB 165, that would protect LGBT Texans from discrimination in employment, housing, and in public accommodations – places like restaurants. Pledge your support!
Equality Federation is deeply concerned about the anti-Muslim rhetoric and potential policies of Mr. Trump’s team, including the proposed registry of Muslim immigrants. Here are a few organizations you can learn about and support during this troubling time. We are dedicated to working hand-in-hand with our partners to combat racism and bigotry in all its forms.
Today, a Minnesota District Court ruled that transgender people on Medical Assistance in Minnesota deserve access to medically necessary services related to gender transition. Since 2005, surgical treatments for gender dysphoria have been excluded from coverage even though equivalent treatments were covered under the federal Medicare program and private insurance plans.
Like you, I am still grappling with the sadness, anger, and shock over the victory of a candidate who could not be more removed from our values, and the values of my daughter’s generation. This is a candidate who stirred-up bigotry, racism, and misogyny that has seriously divided our country.
Paid Health Leave for everyone would provide access to taking care of oneself without jeopardizing their employment. This is a part of public health, and we must invest in it to keep everyone safe.
Investing in furthering transphobic laws is a waste of precious resources, resources that come from our hard work. There are so many other things to invest in instead.
The Biden administration has issued new proposed regulations under Title IX, the federal civil rights law, stating that schools cannot categorically ban transgender students from joining athletic teams consistent with their gender identity.The regulations are a response to a coordinated nationwide effort to erase trans people from public life, including 64 bills seeking to bar transgender students athletes from participating in school sports. Since 2021, 20 states have banned trans student athletes from participating in school sports.Equality Federation Executive Director Fran Hutchins had the following comment on the proposed regulations:
LGBTQ+ Communities Fight Back Against Coordinated Nationwide Assault State legislators have passed 28, proposed 460 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills In 2023, state lawmakers have introduced 460 bills attacking LGBTQ+ people, with 356 bills specifically targeting transgender people. Recent reports indicate that the record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills result from a coordinated, nationwide effort by far-right politicians with ties to extremist groups.So far in 2023, states have enacted 28 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills, including legislation or executive action banning or further restricting gender-affirming health care for adults or children in twelve states:, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho, and Arkansas. In 2022, Arizona and Alabama passed similar laws banning health care. Advocates expect as many as twenty states will ban gender-affirming health care this year.
Trans people are the experts in their own lives and are not a monolith. We should listen to as many trans people as we are willing to share and trust that their lives will adequately supplement the data we have and are continuing to collect to create robust and effective policy.
December 14, 2022 - Yesterday, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that the federal government respects and protects all marriages equally.
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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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