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

BGM Forum logo
Troy Stevenson

Troy Stevenson is the Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, the statewide organization focused on public education and advocacy on behalf of Oklahoma's LGBT Community. Troy is a nationally recognized civil rights advocate and the former executive director of Garden State Equality, in New Jersey, and a veteran of 2 presidential campaigns.

March 9, 2015
BGM Forum logo
State Equality Index - Equality Federation Institute & the Human Rights Campaign

The State Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that affect LGBT people and their families. The SEI rates all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. in six areas and assigns the states to one of four distinct categories.

March 7, 2015
BGM Forum logo
Anti-Transgender Bills Moving Forward in Three States

Texas, Kentucky, and Florida have anti-transgender bills making their way through the legislative process. The bills could have very real, harmful consequences for transgender people and anyone else who may not fit in with the narrow assumptions some people have about how a man or woman is expected to appear.

March 6, 2015
BGM Forum logo
More Than 300 Republicans Come Out in Support of Same-Sex Marriage

On March 5th, more than 300 Republicans filed a friend of the court brief at the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage nationwide. Organized by former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, the amicus brief was filed for the four same-sex marriage cases the Court will hear on April 28th that could legalize marriage nationwide.

March 6, 2015
BGM Forum logo
Historic LGBT-Faith Coalition Backs Nondiscrimination in Utah

SAN FRANCISCO - Today, Equality Federation hails the progress made by Federation member Equality Utah in bringing together faith and political leaders to draft nondiscrimination legislation, Senate Bill 296, to ensure no hardworking Utahn is unfairly fired from a job or denied a place to live.

March 4, 2015
BGM Forum logo
Federation Plans for the Work Ahead with Newly Merged Freedom Oklahoma

A year and a half ago, I flew to Tulsa to work with The Equality Network. At that time, TEN was a small organization of committed volunteers. While they were doing remarkable work with few resources, they recognized it was time to grow so they could have an even bigger impact on their state.

March 4, 2015

Press Releases

New Report Outlines the Harms of Conversion Therapy

This week, the Obama Administration announced support for banning so-called conversion therapy practices nationwide. This is an important step for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, as these harmful practices particularly impact the lives of LGBT youth.

April 10, 2015
Top Florida Companies Call on State Lawmakers to Reject Discrimination, Pass Competitive Workforce Act

(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – A coalition of some of the state’s top employers and business leaders today sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli asking lawmakers to hear House Bill 33 by Rep. Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) and Senate Bill 156 by Sen. Joe Abruzzo (D-Boynton Beach) and to support the Competitive Workforce Act.

April 9, 2015
Extremists Also Remember Selma: The Ugly History Behind “Religious Freedom” Laws

From Ava DuVernay’s award-winning film to President Obama’s speech at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, to the thousands we crossed the Bridge with and the millions that joined by TV, America has remembered Selma this year. 

April 9, 2015
Meet Lennie & Pearl - Together Almost 50 Years, Their Lawsuit Won Marriage Equality in North Carolina

The Human Rights Campaign is celebrating the love between Lennie Gerber and Pearl Berlin, a couple who has been together almost 50 years! Watch the video below, and be sure to have tissues handy. Their love is contagious! 

April 8, 2015
Watch: Emotional Reunion Between Transgender Teen & Supportive School Counselor

In this Nightline special, Nathan, a transgender teen, meets with the school counselor who supported him throughout his childhood struggle. Years later, Nightline captures the emotional reunion. 

April 7, 2015
VICTORY: RFRA will not advance in Georgia!

At midnight last night, the Georgia General Assembly officially closed their doors for this legislative session and with it ended any chance that RFRA could move forward in Georgia in 2015. Congratulations to the teams at Georgia Unites Against Discrimination and Georgia Equality for all your hard work to protect the LGBT community in your state!

April 3, 2015
A young man looking up, smilingA young man smiling straight at the camera
Confident young woman standing with crossed arms.

Want To Make A Difference? Support Our Work

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.