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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Finding Hope in the Resistance: 20 Years of Winning Equality

“With Equality Federation celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year marks two decades of state equality groups coming together to strategize, share, and learn from each other. We believe that we are stronger and better together, and our record proves it.

August 1, 2017
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Meet Transgender Veterans Who Are Speaking Out

Equality Federation’s member organizations have volunteers, staff, and board members who are transgender veterans. Here are a few of their reactions to Trump’s plans to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

July 27, 2017
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200 Leaders from the LGBTQ Civil Rights Movement Stand Together Against Trump’s Shameful Ban on Transgender People in the Military

WASHINGTON — Today, over 200 leaders from the LGBTQ civil rights movement are gathered in Alexandria just across the river from Washington, D.C. for the annual Equality Federation Leadership Conference as President Trump announced his intention, in a series of tweets, to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

July 26, 2017
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Transgender Americans Under Attack: Take Action Now!

This is personal. As the son, grandson, and brother of veterans, I am horrified that some service members and their dependents could be denied life saving health care simply because they are transgender.

July 13, 2017
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Transgender Americans Under Attack

As Texas prepares to enter a special legislative session to consider a growing number of discriminatory bills targeting transgender people and their families, the United States House of Representatives is today considering a amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would strip transgender service members and their dependents of access to health care. The harmful amendment was introduced by Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO).

July 13, 2017
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State-Based LGBTQ Advocates Will Convene to Build Power of Movement

Leaders of state-based equality organizations—from Equality California to Equality Maine—and key national partners, will convene at Equality Federation’s 20th annual Leadership Conference in Alexandria, Virginia July 26-29.

July 11, 2017

Press Releases

Victory! Chelsea Manning Will Be Free in May!

Equality Federation applauds President Obama’s decision to commute the sentence of Chelsea Manning. She has served more time in prison than any whistleblower in United States history, and, like many other transgender prisoners, was treated unfairly on multiple occasions based on her gender identity and expression.

January 17, 2017
Reality Check: Sexual Assault Groups Oppose Transgender Bathroom Ban Laws

As lawmakers who oppose fairness for LGBTQ Americans launch their wave of discriminatory bills – from Texas to Washington – in the 2017 session, they often argue that they promoting their legislation in the name of safety for women and children who could be a risk of assault.

January 6, 2017
Progress! Virginia Governor Signs Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination Order

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order today that bans anti-LGBTQ discrimination among state employees, contractors and subcontractors.

January 5, 2017
2016 State of the States Part 4: Accomplishing Priorities & Creating Strategic Partnerships

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, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the communities they call home.

January 3, 2017
2016 State of the States Part 3: Staff & Boards Creating Social Change

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, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the communities they call home. Over the past ten years, State of the States has faithfully documented our movement’s triumphs and trials as reflected in the capacity of our state-based organizations.

January 3, 2017
North Carolina: What Happened, What's Next

I spent Wednesday standing shoulder to shoulder with Equality North Carolina and their partners as we worked to repeal House Bill 2, the devastating law passed last spring that forces transgender people to use restrooms that don’t match who they are and prohibits cities from protecting their communities with nondiscrimination ordinances. Unfortunately, we failed.

December 23, 2016
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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.