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

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Swampscott, MA Passes Public Setting Nondiscrimination Protections for Gender Identity

Swampscot, MA has joined the movement led by towns and cities across the country to protect people from discrimination based on gender identity. Carly Burton, interim co-executive director of Federation member MassEquality, released the following statement in response to the decision.

March 3, 2015
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Charlotte, NC City Council Rejects Weakened Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Last night, the Charlotte City Council rejected a proposed nondiscrimination ordinance supported by Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina and their coalition partners. The measures would have added sexual orientation and gender identity, among other characteristics, to already protected classes in four city non-discrimination ordinances.

March 3, 2015
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Married Same-Sex Couples Now Protected By Family and Medical Leave Act

The Department of Labor has issued some great news for LGBT couples and their families: married same-sex couples will soon be eligible for benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act even if they live in a state that doesn’t recognize their marriage. From a release on the Department’s website, workers in same-sex marriages will have the same rights as those in opposite-sex marriages to federal job-protected leave under the FMLA to care for a spouse with a serious health condition.

February 28, 2015
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Exposed: Dangerous "Gay Conversion Therapy" Still Practiced in Most States (video)

Dangerous forms of "therapy" are performed every day in the United States and throughout the world in an attempt to "convert" lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to conform to heterosexuality and traditional gender standards. Despite the progress we've made achieving the freedom to marry in many states and the increased cultural acceptance of LGBT people, this dangerous practice continues.

February 27, 2015
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Nathan Schaefer

Nathan Schaefer is the Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda and the Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s staff across the state and is responsible for advancing equality and justice for LGBT New Yorkers via the various facets of both organizations.

February 26, 2015
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Pediatrician Refuses To Care For Baby With Lesbian Mothers

A Michigan pediatrician has refused to care for the baby of a lesbian couple, a sad illustration of why every state needs inclusive nondiscrimination laws that do not have loopholes that could put lives in danger. Currently, 206 million people live in a state that does not have nondiscrimination laws to fully protect gay and transgender people. 

February 19, 2015

Press Releases

Member Resource: Build Support in Your Community Through Mayors for the Freedom to Marry

Looking for a concrete, meaningful project to engage activists in your state? Consider helping to grow the list of Mayors for the Freedom to Marry. Or use the list to help find allies in key districts you may be targeting for nondiscrimination campaigns.

July 16, 2014
Member Opportunity: Transgender Voter ID Webinar for Movement Leaders

In the 2012 election cycle alone, an estimated 25,000 transgender people were disenfranchised by strict new voter ID laws in just 9 states. With one-third of transgender people nationwide unable to update any of their voting IDs, this is a critical issue our movement must address.

July 16, 2014
Jenn Curtin

Jenn is the Program Associate at Equality Federation, the strategic partner to state-based organizations winning equality in the communities we call home. In her role, she strengthens our major donor program — from managing a portfolio of our current donors to communicating with prospective donors.

July 16, 2014
Last Chance to Sign Up for The Management Center Training at Summer Meeting 2014

Summer Meeting 2014 is just a few weeks away, and we only have a few spots left for Wednesday’s FREE crash course in the basics of effective management.With support from Arcus Foundation, we’re bringing in our friends from The Management Center to share their Managing to Change the World training with Summer Meeting participants.

July 15, 2014
Get to Know Our New Member Representative Candidates for the Board

In just a few short weeks, our members will have the chance to vote on our new slate of member representatives to the Equality Federation and Equality Federation Institute Board of Directors.

July 14, 2014
Press Release: Equality Federation Institute Releases Report on the Movement After Marriage

Today, Equality Federation Institute released What’s Next: Building Strong LGBTQ Organizations Beyond the Marriage Milestone. This report carefully considers what effective advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) equality looks like after winning marriage for same-sex couples.

July 10, 2014
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