State-based organizations across the country are advancing major progress in the communities we call home -- where the work is hard, but the impact is great.

Nearly every week, we hear about another victory that provides LGBT people with the protection, respect, and dignity they need and deserve, but far too often, these wins are unrecognized by the broader community.

At the Federation, we’re committed to telling the story of these victories. And this time, we're headed to Colorado, Michigan, Virginia, and West Virginia.

• On February 4th, HB 1081, a bill that would have repealed protections for transgender people, was defeated by a 7-4 vote. This bill would have created an exclusion in the law that would prevent transgender Coloradans from using locker room facilities consistent with their gender identity. Federation member One Colorado’s executive director Dave Montez delivered a written statement opposing HB 1081 from Matrix Fitness and Spa, a local fitness center. Thank you to the team at One Colorado who played a key role in defeating this bill!
• Last week, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that the state will not appeal Judge Goldsmith’s ruling in the Caspar v. Snyder marriage equality case. This means that Michigan will soon recognize over 300 marriages that were granted on March 22, 2014. Congratulations to these married same-sex couples and thank you to the team at Equality Michigan for your ongoing hard work to bring marriage equality to Michigan!
• In Virginia, two bills that protect LGBT people have passed through the Senate. A bill that protects LGBT public employees from workplace discrimination (SB 785) and another that modernizes the Code of Virginia to reflect marriage equality (SB 1211) passed through the Senate with bi-partisan support. Congratulations to Equality Virginia on their successful efforts to push these bills forward, and good luck as you work to get these bills through the House of Delegates.
• Thurmond, West Virginia is now the smallest town in America to pass an ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In a unanimous vote, the town of five residents adopted employment, housing, and public accommodation protections to a new Human Rights Act. Thank you to the residents of Thurmond, and Fairness West Virginia who is committed to making all West Virginia communities inclusive, no matter how small.

What else? Let us know about a win in your community, and we’ll feature it in an upcoming edition of Unsung Victories! Just send an email to communications@equalityfederation.org.