Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
At the end of 2013, New Jersey became the 14th state to extend the freedom to marry to same-sex couples. This historic victory was the result of the hard work of many LGBT activists and organizations, including Federation member Garden State Equality.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s historic decision in Windsor v. United States last June, we have seen over 10 states win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. We have witnessed 40 wins, and two losses, for the freedom to marry, and with 81 cases pending in 32 states, the time is right for the Supreme Court to consider one or more of the federal marriage equality cases.
At this year’s Summer Meeting, we invited state leaders to take five minutes to share a big idea, talk through an innovative strategy, or offer up an exciting concept in a FEDtalk. These energetic and captivating presentations about the most innovative parts of our members’ work stood out, once again, as a major highlight of Summer Meeting. So we wanted to share them with everyone, not just the folks who joined us at this year’s meeting.
Every year, the Equality Federation Institute hosts its annual Summer Meeting, bringing together LGBT movement leaders from across the country to build skills and forge connections that strengthen the incredible work that’s happening in all the communities we call home. Even as many of us are still energized from the 2014 Summer Meeting in Minneapolis, next year’s meeting will be here before you know it, and we want you to save the date!
Over the last two years, Equality Federation has been partnering with state equality groups, GSA Network, and education justice colleagues like Advancement Project and Dignity in Schools Campaign (DSC) to raise awareness of the impact of school pushout on LGBT young people. School pushout refers to school policies, practices, and procedures that make it more likely for students to leave school instead of finish it.
Over the past few months, many of our members have expressed interest in learning more about the Voter Activation Network (VAN).The VAN is a voter database containing information on voters for the purpose of assisting your get out the vote (GOTV) efforts and other areas of your campaigns.
Today the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a report (.pdf) detailing the harms and dangers presented by so-called conversion therapy used on LGBTQ youth in attempts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Matthew is excited to lead the expansion of the Federation’s fundraising efforts and has already hit the ground running. He will work to increase our support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources to ensure the continued growth of our flagship programs that are winning equality in communities we call home.
It's almost that time of year again - time for the final big push and pull for donations. While reaching your year end goals may feel out of reach and loom on the horizon, fear not.
Only 22 percent of states—including the District of Columbia—offer free or reduced-cost ID cards to young people who are homeless. With research that suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are significantly overrepresented among young people experiencing homelessness, this is a problem.
This position requires a combination of internal direct service and external outreach and education. The successful candidate must provide direct service to survivors of violence via a crisis line, peer counseling, court accompaniment, police accompaniment, and otherwise as needed.
Transgender Law Center and Equality California Institute are jointly launching a statewide public education campaign to combat widespread public misunderstanding about transgender and gender nonconforming people and the issues they face. The campaign aims to introduce the public to transgender people in a number of settings and will consist of message research, community engagement and a robust communications plan.
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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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