Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Early next month, new protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community will become law in Maryland without Governor Larry Hogan's signature. Federation member Equality Maryland's work in the state was imperative to the passing of two pro-LGBT bills in the House and Senate this legislative session.
This summer, Hawaii will become the next state to advance equality for the transgender community.During Hawaii's 2015 legislative session, Federation member Equality Hawaii strongly advocated for HB 631, the transgender birth certificate bill.
Earlier this month, I flew to Albuquerque for a remarkable convening of activists from movements for reproductive rights, reproductive justice, and LGBT issues in the Southwest. Organized by ConwayStrategic (with funding from the Ford Foundation) the gathering included advocates from Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, including Equality Federation members Equality New Mexico and Equality Arizona, along with some national organizations.
Over the past few months we have seen an increase in the number of anti-conversion therapy bills introduced in legislatures across the country. These bills call for the end of this dangerous practice that causes real harm to the LGBT community, and especially to LGBT youth who are subjected to it against their will.
Louisiana set a dangerous precedent this week. Two different nondiscrimination bills -- both positive pieces of legislation that would have extended protections to LGBT Louisianans -- were tabled.
Like its neighboring state of Oklahoma, Texas has seen a dizzying number of anti-LGBT bills this session, 22 to be exact. Federation member Equality Texas helped to soundly defeat four preemption bills that would have invalidated local LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances.
Equality Federation applauds Transgender Law Center and Federation member Equality California for their leadership on this legislation and calls on Governor Brown to sign it into law.
Nancy Haque, leader of Basic Rights Oregon, made us laugh, cry, and feel charged up and ready to resist the Trump Administration’s attacks on all our communities. In this FEDTalk, she describes her reaction to the election as a single mom and having an immigrant family.
President Trump and Attorney General Sessions are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of a baker who refused to serve a same-sex couple. SCOTUS’ ruling in the upcoming Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case could change the landscape of existing non-discrimination laws across the country.
The hurricanes that have battered the southeast over the past month have left devastation in their wake. Our friends in Texas, Florida, the Caribbean, and beyond have a long road ahead.
President Trump’s announcement that he will end DACA, a program that protects undocumented young people who grew up in America from deportation, is a cruel and heartless attack on 800,000 families.
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)!
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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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