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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Watch the Nation's First Openly Lesbian House Speaker Address the DNC!

Tina Kotek, a Representative from Oregon, became the nation’s first openly lesbian House Speaker when she was sworn into office in 2013. She’s a longtime advocate of LGBTQ equality but is also well-known for her advocacy efforts around housing, health care, and other important issues that most impact marginalized communities.

July 25, 2016
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Summer of Action Kicks-Off: Join the Volunteers Going Door-to-Door for LGBTQ Equality!

Summer of Action has kicked off in Phoenix, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Cleveland! Over the next three weeks we will have thousands of conversations about nondiscrimination with people on their front porches and on the phone!

July 23, 2016
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National TV Ad Depicting Transgender Discrimination to Premiere During RNC

Equality Federation is proud to partner in the launch of a groundbreaking ad depicting the challenges faced by transgender people in accessing public restrooms—and highlighting the lack of state and federal nondiscrimination protections for transgender people.

July 11, 2016
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VICTORY! Mass. Governor Signs Transgender Nondiscrimination Protections

Today Equality Federation celebrates Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s signing of a historic bill that updates Massachusetts state law to ensure explicit protections for transgender people from discrimination in public places, including restaurants, hospitals, parks, and public restrooms.

July 8, 2016
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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

Press Releases

5 Ways to Stay Active in the LGBTQ Movement (Without Succumbing to Abject Martyrdom)

Equality Federation recently held our annual Leadership Conference, featuring our fabulous FEDTalks – 5 minute talks given by the leaders of the state-based LGBTQ movement. We’re proud to debut Sara Burlingame’s (Wyoming Equality) hilarious talk 5 Ways to Stay Active in the LGBTQ Movement (Without Succumbing to Abject Martyrdom)!

August 29, 2017
Trump Signs Discriminatory Anti-Transgender Military Directive

Today President Trump signed an unnecessary and divisive directive that bans the military from recruiting transgender service members, and bans the Department of Defense from providing necessary medical care for current transgender service members. At press time, it is unclear if currently serving members will be able to continue since The White House has left questions unanswered.

August 25, 2017
Equality Delaware and One Iowa Join Equality Federation!

The state-based movement for LGBTQ equality and justice is broad and diverse. That’s why we strive to ensure that our membership reflects the whole country.

August 17, 2017
Victory! Texas Defeats Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bans

Today we join transgender Texans and their families in celebration because, after many months of courageous storytelling and coalition building, the efforts to pass anti-transgender bathroom ban legislation have FAILED.

August 16, 2017
Statement on the Violence in Virginia

The violence in Virginia over the weekend of August 12th was a terrible reminder of the racism that is rampant in our country today. The current Administration has emboldened those who wish to divide us.

August 14, 2017
These Stories Need Heard: Conversion "Therapy," HIV Stigma, & Thriving While Trans

One thing our movement has learned for sure is that our stories have the power to transform hearts and minds, and that we must never be silent. Last week, the keynote speakers at our 20th Annual Leadership Conference provided extraordinary examples of that.

August 10, 2017
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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.