State-based organizations across the country are making change 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 go unsung by the broader LGBT movement.

At the Federation, we’re committed to telling the story of these victories. And this week, we're headed to Maryland, Kentucky, Louisiana and West Virginia, where local nondiscrimination ordinances passed in four cities in just one month!

• In Maryland, Hyattsville City Council unanimously approved an ordinance banning anti-LGBT discrimination, making Hyattsville the first jurisdiction in Prince George’s County to ban anti-trans discrimination! Thank you to the whole team at Equality Maryland for their work to get this ordinance approved, including testimony from Executive Director Carrie Evans in support of the ban.

• Morehead, Kentucky became the commonwealth’s sixth city to extend discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity to its residents. Through the efforts of the Fairness Campaign, the number of Kentucky cities with fairness ordinances extending discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodations to LGBT people doubled in 2013 alone!

• The “Be Fair Shreveport” campaign lead by Forum for Equality and PACE (People Acting for Change and Equality) led to a big win in Shreveport, Louisiana, as the City Council passed an all inclusive Fairness Ordinance. This ordinance protects all residents from any form of discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Congratulations on this successful joint effort!

• In Huntington, West Virginia, the City Council took action to protect its LGBT citizens by approving a nondiscrimination ordinance in employment and housing. Thank you to the team at Fairness West Virginia for their tireless work to protect LGBT West Virginians!

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.