Equality Federation won’t stop until all LGBTQ+ people are fully empowered and represented in their communities, experiencing full equality in their lives.

Mark is the Director of Communications at Equality Federation, the strategic partner to state-based organizations winning equality in the communities we call home. As Director of Communications, Mark focuses on elevating our organizational brand to better reach target audiences -- from Federation member organizations to LGBT movement leaders.

Equality Federation is a proud signer of the following letter in coalition with The National LGBTQ Task Force and other national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations.

Since 2006, the State of the States report by Equality Federation has documented the strength and sustainability of state-based advocacy organizations that advance equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the communities they call home. Over the past eight years, State of the States has faithfully documented our movement’s triumphs and trials as reflected in the capacity of our state-based organizations.

Across the country, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals face some of the greatest barriers to accessing adequate and affordable healthcare. For transgender individuals, these barriers are often increased.

Last month I had the honor and pleasure of gathering with Federation members from our Midwest cohort at the annual Midwest Leadership Summit in Chicago. As part of our State Leadership Project, the Midwest Leadership Summit is a chance to share strategies, network, and plan for collaboration in the year to come.

The Fairness Project is a resource for state and national organizations working to secure nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. Through its Fairness Project, the Equality Federation offers the public a place to learn more about the need for comprehensive and inclusive nondiscrimination protections.

In 2013, 76% of intimate partner violence homicide victims were gay men. Gay men, LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities of color, LGBTQ and HIV-affected youth and young adults, bisexual survivors, and transgender communities are the groups most impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV).

The movement for full LGBT equality is making incredible headway and state-based equality organizations have played a critical role. That’s why I’m proud to share with you Equality Federation’s 2013 Annual Report, which provides a look at how we work with states to make change happen at the local and state level.

It is almost hard to keep up with the incredible marriage progress over the past week. In the span of just a few days, the Supreme Court extended the freedom to marry to couples in Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Indiana, and the 9th Circuit Court ruled against bans in Nevada and Idaho.

All young people deserve the opportunity to succeed in a safe and protective school environment. But far too often, LGBTQ youth, and especially LGBTQ youth of color, face extreme barriers to achieving success.

If the term "steward" only has meaning for you when it comes to ordering wine, keep reading. Whether you're a board member, executive director, development director, or other staff, you have a role to play in fundraising, and often this role calls on you to be a steward for your organization.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults make up a large proportion of the LGBT community, yet are one of the most understudied populations. With 10,000 people turning 65 every day, many of whom are LGBT, it is essential that we understand the values, needs, wants and lifestyle preferences of LGBT older adults.

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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.