Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.
Equality Federation denounced today the enactment of North Carolina Senate Bill 2, an anti-LGBT law that allows magistrates and other public officials to opt out of performing marriage services for couples if they have religious objections to certain marriages. The law had been vetoed by Governor Pat McCory, but today the House of Representatives voted 69-41 to override his decision, which means SB 2 will become law.
Despite these laws and guidance, Media Matters for America found that various conservative media outlets have promoted myths that policies protecting transgender students "create confusion, violate students' privacy rights, and can be exploited by students who will pretend to be transgender in order to sneak into the restrooms for the opposite sex."
Want to be even more connected to the LGBT movement at this critical time?Follow these simple steps.
On Monday, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a best practices guide that will ensure transgender employees has access to the restroom that corresponds to their gender identity. The 4-page "Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers" provides guidance to employers on best practices regarding restroom access for transgender workers, with the goal of assuring that employers provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.
You won't want to miss this! Garden State Equality's executive director Andrea Majanik Bowen was interviewed in Slate's fun series Ask A Homo about how to talk with trans people with respect. Garden State Equality is a member of the Equality Federation.
A bill (SB 2) that would exempt certain public officials from issuing marriage licenses without fear of losing their jobs if doing so “would violate their core religious beliefs” has passed in North Carolina's legislature and now awaits action from Governor McCrory.We join Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina in calling upon the Governor to veto the bill.
Recently, our board of directors voted on two new at-large members. In just a few short weeks, our members will have the chance to vote on our new slate of member representatives to the Equality Federation and Equality Federation Institute Board of Directors.
The Equality Federation is looking for a highly skilled, enthusiastic and motivated leader to become our Director of Development. As we continue to build our organization, we are seeking an individual who can help us expand as the movement builder and strategic partner to state-based organizations advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
Advocates are working all across the country to advance statewide laws and local ordinances protecting LGBT people from discrimination. At the same time, our opposition is mounting an effort to pass so-called religious exemption laws legalizing discrimination against LGBT people in housing, employment, and services.
Our partners at the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund have an exciting opportunity for those interested in learning more about effective political campaigns. Later this month, Victory's Candidate & Campaign Training will take place in San Antonio, Texas.
Equality Federation member Forum for Equality Foundation has partnered with the ACLU to file suit challenging Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's anti-LGBT "Marriage and Conscience Order." Read the press release below!
Today, Equality Federation applauds the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision securing the freedom to marry for all Americans!This is a momentous win for freedom, equality, inclusion, commitment, and above all, love.
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.