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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Anti-Transgender Campaign Fails in Washington

The I-1515 campaign – an effort to repeal Washington State’s 10 year old non-discrimination law protecting our transgender friends, co-workers and family members – failed to turn in enough (246,372) signatures to qualify for this year’s fall election ballot. The WA Secretary of State’s office announced late this afternoon that the I-1515 campaign cancelled its appointment to turn in signatures.

July 8, 2016
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LGBTQ Advocates Convene in Portland to Build Power of Movement #EQFED16

Leaders of state-based equality organizations—from Equality California to Equality Florida—as well as several national partners, will convene at Equality Federation’s Leadership Conference in Portland, Oregon July 13-16th.

July 7, 2016
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Chairman Chaffetz: Cancel July 12 Hearing on Discriminatory Anti-LGBT Bill!

Equality Federation stands in strong opposition to the “First Amendment Defense Act,” known as FADA and has signed a coalition letter demanding the cancellation of the July 12th hearing for the legislation.

July 7, 2016
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Pentagon Lifts Transgender Ban!

Thousands of patriotic transgender Americans already serve in our military and are putting their lives on the line. This policy allows them to serve openly and with honor and integrity.

June 30, 2016
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Tell the FDA: Lift the Blood Ban!

I lived in San Francisco during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. It was a terrifying time full of despair, loss, and anger as we lost so many members of our community. I remember seeing the blood drive vans parked in the heart of the Castro, the city’s gay neighborhood, when gay men were turned away from donating blood to their own community in need.

June 21, 2016
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LGBTQ and Gun Violence-Prevention Groups Call for Hate and Terror to be Disarmed Following Orlando Shooting

As U.S. government leaders continue to grapple with addressing gun violence-prevention following last weekend’s homophobic massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, LGBTQ and gun violence-prevention advocates and activists are calling for more stringent checks to keep guns out of dangerous hands.

June 16, 2016

Press Releases

Trump's Promise to the LGBTQ Community a "Giant Con"

Equality Federation’s Executive Director Rebecca Isaacs provided commentary, analysis, and background information for this in-depth article from VOX about what a year under Trump has meant for the LGBTQ community.

January 22, 2018
Trump’s Proposed Discriminatory Health Care Exemptions Put Lives at Risk

President Trump’s reported decision to upend Health and Human Services (HHS) rules could create a dangerous license to discriminate, and while LGBTQ people and our families along with anyone seeking reproductive health services are no doubt the targets of this overhaul, any person or family could be at risk of discrimination as a result.

January 18, 2018
Equality Federation is Growing!

In the last five years, Equality Federation has grown by leaps and bounds! Our strategic growth has allowed us to roll out field and targeting support to all 50 states, increase our ability to track and provide rapid response during state legislative sessions, and grow our leadership programs to include training and support for fundraising, communications, and organizing staff of member groups.

January 18, 2018
Watch: New Ad Features Transgender Man Facing Discrimination & Report Exposes Patchwork of Protections

The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to issue a ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case involving a business asking the Court for a Constitutional right to refuse service to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.

January 17, 2018
Historic! New York Legislature Passes GENDA & Bans Conversion Therapy

Today New York’s legislature passed GENDA, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, that will ensure New Yorkers are protected from discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The legislature also passed a ban on the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy.

January 15, 2018
State Equality Index: How Does Your State Score?

Today, Equality Federation Institute and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation and the released their annual State Equality Index (SEI), a comprehensive state-by-state report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families and placing states in one of four categories based on their pro- and anti-LGBTQ state laws.

January 10, 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.