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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LGBTQ+ Communities Fight Back Against Coordinated Nationwide Assault

LGBTQ+ Communities Fight Back Against Coordinated Nationwide Assault State legislators have passed 28, proposed 460 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills‍ In 2023, state lawmakers have introduced 460 bills attacking LGBTQ+ people, with 356 bills specifically targeting transgender people. Recent reports indicate that the record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills result from a coordinated, nationwide effort by far-right politicians with ties to extremist groups.‍So far in 2023, states have enacted 28 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ bills, including legislation or executive action banning or further restricting gender-affirming health care for adults or children in twelve states:, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, Idaho, and Arkansas. In 2022, Arizona and Alabama passed similar laws banning health care. Advocates expect as many as twenty states will ban gender-affirming health care this year. 

April 3, 2023
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How this Southern Team Defended Trans Rights

Trans people are the experts in their own lives and are not a monolith. We should listen to as many trans people as we are willing to share and trust that their lives will adequately supplement the data we have and are continuing to collect to create robust and effective policy.

March 28, 2023
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President Biden Signs the Respect for Marriage Act

December 14, 2022 - Yesterday, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that the federal government respects and protects all marriages equally.

December 14, 2022
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Equality Federation Institute Honored to be Recipient of Major Gift from Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Today, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced that she has made a major gift to Equality Federation Institute as part of her pledge to give away a majority of her wealth through the Giving Pledge. Equality Federation received a $2 million gift to support the organization’s work as an advocacy accelerator for the state-based LGBTQ+ movement.

November 14, 2022
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Report: Trans Defense Campaign

This year, in addition to our usual planning, coaching and other legislative support work, Equality Federation launched the Trans Defense Campaign to demonstrate the unified power of the state-based movement to defeat anti-transgender bills and win public support for transgender people. 

August 24, 2022
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Support our Members this Give OUT Day

June 27, 2022

Press Releases

Eleven States Join Anti-Transgender Lawsuit Against Obama Admin

Officials in eleven states – Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin – have filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration over its directive to allow transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.

May 25, 2016
Confirmed: LGBT People Protected from Discrimination in Health Insurance and Care

Equality Federation joined the chorus of LGBTQ advocates and health care professionals in praising the Obama Administration for finalizing a rule in the Affordable Care Act that bans discrimination in health insurance and health care.

May 13, 2016
New Ad Targeting Anti-LGBTQ Law in NC Features Transgender Man

Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina has launched a groundbreaking commercial featuring a transgender North Carolinian and others speaking out against ant-LGBTQ law, HB 2, with support from our friends and partners at American Unity Fund, Freedom for All Americans.

May 4, 2016
Even Donald Trump Slams Anti-LGBTQ Law HB2

Watch GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump come out against North Carolina’s anti-LGBTQ law, HB2, at a recent town hall.

May 4, 2016
Beyoncé Slays HB2

Queen Bey has spoken! Beyoncé has posted a message on her blog informing fans about the dangerous anti-LGBTQ law, HB2, and encouraging concert goers to support the work of Equality Federation member Equality North Carolina

May 4, 2016
Victory! U.S. Department of Justice Says HB2 Violates Civil Rights Act

‘The U.S. Department of Justice has given North Carolina’s Governor McCrory until Monday, May 9th to confirm that the state will not comply with HB2. The Williams Institute has projected that the fiscal impact of HB2 could be over $100 million (see infographic below).

May 4, 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.