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 member Forum For Equality issued the following statement praising Governor John Bel Edwards for signing an executive order forbidding state government and government contractors from discriminating based on a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity, while also repealing Gov. Bobby Jindal’s maligning Marriage and Conscience executive order.
Equality Federation continues to call upon North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and the legislature to repeal House Bill 2 (HB 2), one of the most extreme anti-LGBT laws in the country. The Governor’s executive order purports to create protections in public employment for gay and transgender North Carolinians but does not repeal the law or provide comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBT people in housing, public spaces, and so on.
South Carolina Senator Lee Bright has introduced a sweeping anti-LGBTQ bill that has some similarities to the law recently passed in North Carolina, which is drawing the outrage of hundreds of corporations and small businesses alongside community and faith leaders.
Fresh on the heels of new anti-LGBTQ smears by outside groups trying to mislead people about pending nondiscrimination legislation, Pennsylvania Governor Wolf has signed executive orders providing non-discrimination protections for members of the LGBT community employed by or contracting with the Commonwealth.
On March 23, the North Carolina General Assembly held a special session to rush through—in less than 12 hours—legislation attacking the LGBTQ community. House Bill 2 abolished all local nondiscrimination laws that go beyond state law, leaving LGBTQ people unprotected across the state, and would force transgender people to use bathrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates in government facilities, putting them at risk of harassment and violence.
The cornerstone of our Southern Leaders program is our Southern Leadership Summit, an annual gathering that brings together advocates from the region for two days of intensive workshops and discussion. Challenging legislative sessions in all the Southern states gave us a lot to talk about, and leaders shared what they’d learned so far, with many fights still going on.
It is bittersweet day as we bid farewell to our Administrative Associate, Josh Stickney. Josh has accepted a role as Digital Communications Manager at Equality California. In this new role, he will be supporting the overall communications strategy and program of the organization.
Thank you to the sponsors of Equality Federation’s 2018 Leadership Conference. Over 230 leaders from the state-based LGBTQ movement convened to strategize for a more fair and just America, and we couldn’t have done it without the generous support of these companies. Watch our opening reception above for inspiring remarks from Lyft, Clarity Campaigns, and Tito’s!
You won’t want to miss this moving speech from Equality Federation’s 2018 Leadership Conference. Nadine Smith of Equality Florida is a powerful storyteller and leader in our movement for justice and equality.
Over 230 LGBTQ leaders from the state-based movement for equality will convene in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the end of July for Equality Federation’s 21st annual Leadership Conference.
The Supreme Court of the United States has asked the Washington Supreme Court to revisit Arlene’s Flowers v. Washington. The Justices will not hear the case, asking the lower court to take into consideration the recent Masterpiece Cake decision.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
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.
.png)
