Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
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?
Raising money for your organization can be a real challenge, especially when only a small percentage of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community gives to an LGBTQ cause. But donations, no matter how big or small, are critical for nonprofit LGBTQ organizations to thrive.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Equality Federation is proud to support our member Alaskans Together for Equality and the rest of the steering committee of Fair Anchorage, the No on Prop 1 campaign. This week, they released their first TV ad, which features David Lockard and his son, Col, who is transgender.
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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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