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.

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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
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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
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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
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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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Equality Federation Response to Introduction of the Fairness for All Act

Rep. Chris Stewart from Utah introduced in Congress the "Fairness for All Act" to address LGBTQ discrimination.

December 6, 2019
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The LGBTQ Community Knows Gun Violence too Well

Ian Palmquist stood with Everytown at the Supreme Court to reject the NRA’s attempt to deprive us of the right to enact measures to protect ourselves from gun violence.

December 2, 2019

Press Releases

OUTRAGE: Extreme Anti-LGBTQ Legislation Signed Into Law in North Carolina

Equality Federation denounces North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory for signing into law the most extreme, anti-LGBTQ legislation in the country. House Bill 2 repeals Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance, prevents other towns from passing their own nondiscrimination ordinances, prevents transgender people from being able to use the restroom that matches the gender they live every day, and even prevents cities from adopting living wage ordinances.

March 24, 2016
Breaking: NC House & Senate Pass Extreme Discriminatory Anti-LGBTQ Bill

BREAKING (Stay tuned for updates): Equality Federation calls upon North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory to veto the extreme, anti-LGBTQ legislation that was passed in the General Assembly on Wednesday. HB2 is one of the most discriminatory pieces of legislation to emerge in the country this year.

March 23, 2016
How did they do that?!!? Success in the Sooner State - All 27 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Defeated in Oklahoma

March 10th came and went without much fanfare, yet it was a milestone day for Equality Federation member Freedom Oklahoma. When the Oklahoma Legislature gaveled into session earlier this year, Oklahoma’s LGBTQ community faced a daunting challenge to overcome 27 anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation — many carried over from the previous legislation.

March 17, 2016
Preemptions: The Lurking Threat to Local LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections

In state after state this year, opponents have used ever-evolving strategies to legislate anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The two most common strategies are religious exemption bills (so-called “religious freedom” bills) and bills focussed on restroom access.

March 17, 2016
After 39+ Hour Filibuster Missouri's Anti-LGBTQ Law Moves to House

Update: Equality Federation extends our deepest gratitude to the eight courageous Senators in Missouri who filibustered for a historic 39 hours to prevent a discriminatory religious exemption bill from moving forward in the legislature. SJ39 is a dangerous bill that would ask the voters of Missouri to amend their constitution to allow religious organizations and individuals to use their faith to legally justify refusing services and benefits to LGBTQ people.

March 8, 2016
Why Updating Birth Certificates Is Important for Transgender People & How Laws Are Changing

Now is the time for transgender equality, and more states are doing the right thing. They are no longer forcing transgender people to have surgery or obtain court orders in order to change the gender marker on their birth certificates.

March 2, 2016
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