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

BGM Forum logo
Court Rules Transgender Students' Rights Are Protected

In a case brought by Transgender Law Center, on behalf of high school senior Ash Whitaker, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s ruling that transgender students are protected from discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

May 31, 2017
BGM Forum logo
Victory! Oregon Passes Milestone Transgender Birth Certificate Bill

Equality Federation congratulates Basic Rights Oregon on the historic passage of HB 2673A. This legislation allows transgender individuals to amend both name and gender marker on their birth records without going to court.

May 31, 2017
BGM Forum logo
Texas On Verge of Passing Extreme Anti-LGBTQ Laws

Governor Abbott has called for a special session to continue pushing for an anti-transgender bathroom ban.

May 24, 2017
BGM Forum logo
Victory! Connecticut and Nevada Ban Anti-LGBTQ Conversion Efforts

Equality Federation congratulates our partners and advocates on the ground who have worked tirelessly for these victories in Connecticut and Nevada. This week, we add two more to the list of states that have banned conversion “therapy” for minors.

May 17, 2017
BGM Forum logo
Equality Federation Condemns Tennessee Gov. for Signing Anti-LGBTQ Bill

Equality Federation has condemned Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam for signing HB 1111/SB 1085, requiring that all words in Tennesee state code be defined as their so-called “natural” or “biological” meanings.

May 9, 2017
BGM Forum logo
Trump's Executive Order

Today President Trump signed a troubling and unnecessary executive order (full text below) that directs the Justice Department to draft religious exemptions guidelines that could promote anti-LGBT discrimination, promotes limiting access to contraception, and promotes partisan political spending by churches.

May 4, 2017

Press Releases

Just Released: EFI Summer Meeting 2015 Schedule

Finalizing your plans for Summer Meeting in Charlotte? Itching for more details?Check out our just released schedule! And go ahead and register now to reserve your spot!

June 17, 2015
Michigan Governor Signs Discriminatory Anti-Adoption RFRA Bill into Law

Over 3,000 children are awaiting adoption in Michigan, yet on Thursday, June 11, Governor Rick Snyder signed a law permitting faith-based adoption agencies that receive public funding to discriminate against potential parents - including same-sex or unmarried couples - if doing so would violate the agencies' religious beliefs, leaving the needs of children on the sidelines.

June 12, 2015
N.C. House Overrides Veto, Enacts Anti-LGBT Law

Equality Federation denounced today the enactment of North Carolina Senate Bill 2, an anti-LGBT law that allows magistrates and other public officials to opt out of performing marriage services for couples if they have religious objections to certain marriages. The law had been vetoed by Governor Pat McCory, but today the House of Representatives voted 69-41 to override his decision, which means SB 2 will become law.

June 11, 2015
New Research Debunks Lies About Protections for Transgender Students

Despite these laws and guidance, Media Matters for America found that various conservative media outlets have promoted myths that policies protecting transgender students "create confusion, violate students' privacy rights, and can be exploited by students who will pretend to be transgender in order to sneak into the restrooms for the opposite sex."

June 10, 2015
Thank You!

Want to be even more connected to the LGBT movement at this critical time?Follow these simple steps.

June 5, 2015
Watch: Can I Be a Rude Jerk When Talking About Trans People?

You won't want to miss this! Garden State Equality's executive director Andrea Majanik Bowen was interviewed in Slate's fun series Ask A Homo about how to talk with trans people with respect. Garden State Equality is a member of the Equality Federation.

June 2, 2015
A young man looking up, smilingA young man smiling straight at the camera
Confident young woman standing with crossed arms.

Want To Make A Difference? Support Our Work

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.