Equality Federation

Queer the Census

March 20, 2020

Every 10 years, the United States counts everyone living in the country on April 1, regardless of their nationality or sexual orientation. On the 2020 Census, you’ll have the option to identify a relationship as same-sex on your response.

A complete count will ensure the accuracy of your state’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives and inform the distribution of over $675 billion annually in federal funding for community programs across the nation.

Census data impacts funding for things like:
• Community Development Block Grants
• HIV Emergency Relief Project Grants
• Housing assistance
• Adoption assistance
• Career and technical education grants
• Child and Adult Care Food Program
• Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Our responses benefit the entire LGBTQ+ community and all personal information will be kept confidential by law.

This week you should have receive and invitations to respond to the 2020 census in the mail. If not, yours will arrive soon. The invitation will include instructions for responding online at 2020census.gov.

This PSA explains what the 2020 Census is, how its data is used and secured, how it affects representation, and how to take it.

This PSA explains that we have the power to make a difference, just by participating in the 2020 Census.

More You might like

Black & LGBTQ+ Organizations Mobilize in High-Stakes Supreme Court Battle

We joined The Center for HIV Law and Policy (CHLP), PrEP in Black America (PIBA), Afiya Center (Dallas), Women with a Vision (New Orleans), SisterLove (Atlanta), and BlaqOut (Kansas City, Missouri) in filing an amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief in the Braidwood v Kennedy case on appeal in the Supreme Court in order to take a stand defending access to preventative health care nationally and to protect the Black and brown lives that will be lost should this access be overturned.

Equality Federation

March 19, 2025

Leading Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely

Last month, we hosted our New Executive Director Intensive, one of our longest-running leadership programs. For over a decade, this program has brought together Executive Directors who are new in their role to foster healthy, sustainable organizations and leadership practices. Here are inspiring takeaways we got out of this year’s intensive!

Mel and Jay

March 19, 2025

Spotlight Interview featuring Ronnie, Advocacy, Policy, & Partnerships Director at FreeState Justice

In recognition of HIV is Not a Crime Day and Maryland's recent groundbreaking progress toward HIV law reform, we sat down for a conversation with Ronnie at FreeState Justice, one of our state partners. We discuss Maryland’s historic progress, its significance in the current landscape of HIV criminalization across the United States, and the importance of Black LGBTQ+ leadership in shaping HIV justice.

Equality Federation

March 19, 2025

Browse more

A 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.

Donate