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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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
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Leadership Opportunity from the Arcus Foundation

Good news for Federation members from the Arcus Foundation! They have announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Arcus Leadership Fellowship.

February 17, 2015

Press Releases

Upcoming Webinars for EQFED Members

We have something new, to bring in the new year! In January/early February, we are pleased to offer How State Agencies Protect Transgender Rights: A Series with the National Center for Transgender Equality.

December 20, 2018
How we saved transgender equality in MA!

I’ve spent the last week on the ground in Western Massachusetts running get out the vote for the Yes on 3 campaign, and Tuesday night (Nov. 6, 2018) I got to celebrate a historic win with the amazing people who’ve made it happen.

November 8, 2018
Update from the ground: Down to the wire for trans equality in MA

I’m here, on the ground with the Yes on 3 campaign! I voted early and have spent the rest of my time here working with volunteers, organizers, and supporting the amazing teams they’ve built.

by
November 6, 2018
Lily & Jane & Rashida: Here's how to swing the election our way...

Equality Federation is partnering with The Last Weekend to connect you with a local campaign that is on the edge of flipping toward pro-equality candidates who will fight Trump.

November 2, 2018
Her existence is not an opinion.

My friend Veronica is an incredible woman. She is smart, funny, genuine and sarcastic (a prerequisite for all my friends). We have been an important part of each other’s lives for 20 years. That’s a lot of laughter, a lot of tears and a lot of pedicures. She is my bestie, my heart, my sister, my friend and my family, and, she is transgender.

October 24, 2018
We're here and we will not be erased.

The Trump administration has made a heartless, extremist political attack on transgender and nonbinary people. By threatening to enshrine a narrow definition of gender into law, it is clearer than ever they are willing to disregard science, medicine, and decency in order to push their own dogma.

October 23, 2018
A young man looking up, smilingA young man smiling straight at the camera
Confident young woman standing with crossed arms.

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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.