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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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
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Meet The First Legally Wed Same-Sex Couple in Texas!

Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant have been together almost 31 years, and this morning they were married in Texas! A Travis County Judge ordered the clerk to issue the license, citing a serious health condition of one of the women.

February 19, 2015

Press Releases

LGBTQ State and Local Groups Praise the Introduction of the Equality Act and Call for Its Immediate Passage

We, the undersigned, a coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) state and local organizations, make the following statement in response to the introduction of the Equality Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

February 18, 2020
Equality Federation Applauds California for Launching Process for Pardoning People Prosecuted for Being Gay

We applaud Gov. Newsom for announcing this long overdue pardon of civil rights hero Bayard Rustin along with the new clemency initiative to correct a historical wrong.

February 5, 2020
2019 State Equality Index

The State Equality Index (SEI) is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families. The SEI rates all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. in six areas of law and assigns the states to one of four distinct categories.

January 30, 2020
Transgender Athletes Participate in Sports for the Same Reasons as Everyone Else

When we celebrate sports and protect transgender youth from discrimination, making sure that all young people can access the opportunities that sports afford, everyone wins.

January 29, 2020
Equality Federation Response to Signing of Tennessee Adoption Discrimination Bill HB 836

We are extremely disappointed that Governor Lee signed HB 836 — the first anti-LGBTQ bill to be signed in 2020.

January 24, 2020
The First Wave of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation has Arrived and it’s Worse Than you Think

The 2020 legislative session has just begun and we are already facing a massive wave of anti-LGBTQ bills.

January 23, 2020
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