News & Resources

Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.

The Latest

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We Partnered with MAP & HRC on Two LGBTQ Reports

We partnered with HRC and MAP on two new reports about the LGBTQ Americans. Read the reports for updates on municipal laws, policies, services and unique challenges for transgender people in rural America.

November 19, 2019
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Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America

Stereotypes and pop culture portrayals often overlook the diversity of rural America, framing rural regions as made up predominantly of white, politically conservative people who are hostile to LGBT people. But millions of LGBT people, including transgender people, live in rural communities—and while some struggle, others thrive.

November 19, 2019
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Ways to Support Your LGBTQ Friends and Family

Allies, family members, and friends, here are a few ways you can support your LGBTQ loved ones while waiting for the Supreme Court decision.

October 10, 2019
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Fighting Discrimination at the Supreme Court

On Oct 8, activists, allies, and leaders gathered outside the Supreme Court to show support for the plaintiffs inside who were standing for the rights of all LGBTQ people.

October 8, 2019
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Title VII Supreme Court Cases

On October 8 the U.S. Supreme Court heard three cases about LGBTQ employment discrimination that will determine if federal law protects LGBTQ people. The Supreme Court will consider how Title VII’s ban on workplace sex discrimination protects LGBTQ people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

October 8, 2019
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Trump’s Health and Human Services Rule Change

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget for review on Oct. 4, 2019. The rule is titled “Ensuring Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations.”

October 4, 2019

Press Releases

The 3 Million+ LGBTQ People in Rural America...

Popular culture images of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people suggest that most LGBT people live in cities or on the coasts. Yet an estimated 2.9 – 3.8 million LGBT people call rural America home. Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new report, Where We Call Home: LGBT People in Rural America, which examines the structural differences in rural life and their unique impact on LGBT people in rural areas, who are both more vulnerable to discrimination and less able to respond to its harmful effects.

April 3, 2018
HIV is still very much an LGBTQ issue.

HIV is still very much an LGBTQ issue. Yet, for the past two decades, HIV has not been a high priority for many LGBTQ advocacy organizations; it’s past time for that to change. HIV organizations and advocates living with HIV are doing important and successful work but there are significant gaps in HIV advocacy capacity in many states.

March 20, 2018
Historic Victory for Transgender Students

Equality Federation applauds this week’s decision by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, ruling that transgender students’ right to use the restroom and locker rooms matching their gender identity is protected by federal and state law. Congratulations to our member FreeState Justice, who filed the original suit, and the ACLU of Maryland, who joined as co-counsel, on this historic victory!

March 16, 2018
Welcome our Newest Team Member, Joellyn Weingourt

Our mission to advance and empower the state-based LGBTQ movement has remained constant for the almost 21 years of Equality Federation’s existence. The communities we call home continue to be attacked, which means we must be strategic in our work and growth.

March 8, 2018
Why the Fight to End Conversion Therapy Matters

In the nearly three years since the Obergefell ruling legalized marriage in all fifty states, we’ve faced an uphill battle. Victory has often meant defeating anti-LGBTQ legislation rather than passing proactive, pro-equality legislation.

March 6, 2018
Webinar Part Two: Building a Major Donor Program

As part of our Raising the States development training program, Equality Federation is excited to team up with Network for Good to provide training opportunities open to all members!

March 5, 2018
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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.