Leadership Conference gathers staff, board members, and funders from our network of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. This includes the staff and board of national organizations that partner with our members.
This year's theme is “Constellations of Care: Mapping our Collective Futures,” inviting us to imagine a world far beyond reactive crisis response and into a horizon of liberated futures. We are framing our movements, communities, and organizations as interconnected stars whose interdependence is essential to building a thriving and deserving future of freedom for all LGBTQ+ peoples.
Equality Federation’s network spans across 49 state partners in 40 states. Each year, we select a different host city in an effort to make the event accessible to as many state partners as possible. This year, we are excited to be in Baltimore, Maryland, home to our partner FreeState Justice, Maryland’s leading nonprofit working to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ Marylanders. Leadership Conference is in-person, and we do not offer hybrid programming at this time.
We are excited to be in Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland. Your registration confirmation email will include the link to book your accommodations at our host hotel. Hotel rooms are available at a discounted room rate of $179 per night until June 25, 2026, or when sold out. These rates apply to standard single and double accommodations. Guests should advise the hotel of any changes in length of stay at least 48 hours before check-in, as they will be charged for early departures. The hotel offers accessible rooms for those who need them. When booking, there will be an option to make this request, and the hotel will do its best to accommodate. The hotel offers rooms with wheelchair-accessible showers and visual alarm kits upon request.
We’re so excited to be in Baltimore, home of FreeState Justice, Equality Federation’s state partner in Maryland. Baltimore is a city that doesn't shy away from its history; it is a place where the fight for dignity has always been intersectional. Baltimore’s culture is as bold and layered as the city itself, and its BIPOC and queer communities are at the heart of the scene. Station North Arts District brims with galleries and murals by Black and brown artists, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture tells powerful stories that go way beyond textbooks. Music runs deep here, too—jazz icon Billie Holiday grew up in Baltimore, and her legacy echoes in local clubs where you’ll still find Black artists shaping the city’s soundtrack.Queer culture thrives just as vibrantly. The Baltimore Eagle and Mixers keep the nightlife lively, while grassroots events like Baltimore Pride and the unapologetically fabulous Charm City Fringe Festival showcase local LGBTQ+ talent and creativity. Neighborhoods like Mount Vernon, historically the city’s LGBTQ+ hub, mix stately architecture with welcoming bars, cafés, and drag shows. Add in festivals like Artscape, where queer and BIPOC creators take center stage, and Baltimore feels less like a stop on your trip and more like a celebration you’re invited to join.
Choosing Baltimore as the Conference location for 2026 was a decision made with intention and deep care. Here is how we are thinking about safety and community for our time together:We know that for queer, trans, and BIPOC folks, "safety" is more than just the absence of harm—it is the presence of community. Baltimore is a city of safe havens, home to many organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ community. In Baltimore, safety is found in the "low tolerance for intolerance" held by its residents. It is a "come as you are" city where your identity isn't just "tolerated"—it’s part of the fabric of the streets.We know that for immigrants, community members with mixed status, BIPOC folks, and trans folks, this can feel like a scary time to travel. We are not taking your safety or your trust lightly. We understand that, as out-of-town guests, especially those with intersecting marginalized identities, the stakes are high. We do not know what the situation will be like on the ground in Baltimore in July regarding ICE activity, but we are committed to keeping our Conference attendees safe and protected. We are working with a team of emergency personnel as a proactive presence who will work closely with the local law enforcement and the hotel. We have a team virtually monitoring updates throughout our Conference, as well as an on-site team monitoring the safety of the hotel and our event spaces. We will continue to listen to our local partners and remain responsive to any changes, leading up to the Conference. Please see the “Our Proactive Planning” section for more about what this looks like in practice.
At Equality Federation, we are committed to promoting inclusivity and creating a supportive environment for all attendees. To achieve this, we have made several accessibility improvements, viewable on our Accessibility page.
Come as you feel comfortable. For some folks, that means your gender expression of “smart casual.” Others use the guide of “This is what I usually wear to work,” or “This is what I usually wear for an important external meeting.” We have had the full range and welcome it!The weather will be warm, between 75 and 89 degrees, so please dress comfortably. Don’t forget those indoor layers, since the air conditioning will be working overtime to keep us cool.
Our workshops will include skills-focused, legislative trends, racial justice in our work, and more! Do you have an idea for a Conference topic? Do you have a workshop to offer your colleagues? We’d love to hear from you! Workshops will go live on March 6, 2026.
Yes, all workshop presenters are required to register for Leadership Conference before their proposal will be reviewed. This ensures that all accepted presenters are committed to attending and contributing to the event. Proposals submitted without registration will not be considered. We recommend registering as soon as possible to secure your spot and complete your proposal submission successfully. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at events@equalityfederation.org.
We would love to partner with you! If you’re interested in sponsoring Leadership Conference, please check out our Sponsorship page or contact donate@equalityfederation.org.
Yes! June 22, 2026, is the deadline to register. For security reasons, we will not be accepting on-site registrations. Please email events@equalityfederation.org if you have any questions.
Yes! If you register before May 1, 2026, you will be able to purchase tickets at 15% off for Equality Federation members and 10% off for non-member movement partners.
We are committed to making our events accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. To support this goal, we have implemented a tiered pricing structure for state partners and other movement partners. This will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from programming and networking at the Conference. Find out more about ticket tiers and registration here.
Registration is required for Conference attendees. For our disabled kin: please note in your registration if you will be bringing a PCA (personal care assistant) or any other care worker who will be providing care for your access needs while at the Conference. PCAs do not need to pay to register, but we do want to make sure they have a name tag. Any Conference attendee who needs to bring a PCA should indicate so in their registration and contact events@equalityfederation.org.
Yes. To request a transfer of a purchased ticket to another person, please email events@equalityfederation.org before June 30, 2026. If a ticket transfer request is not submitted in writing by the deadline, your ticket will be forfeited and considered a donation to the Conference.
Thank you for asking! We welcome donations to support registration assistance. If you’d like to contribute in this way, please select an additional amount to pay when registering.
If you can no longer attend Equality Federation’s Leadership Conference 2026, refunds are possible. Cancellations must be received in writing via email before June 22, 2026, for refunds to be processed by July 7. Cancellations made by this date will be refunded in full to the original payment method.If you are no longer able to attend, you can request to transfer your registration to someone else before June 22, 2026. If you don’t request a transfer, we will use your registration fee to support someone else's registration assistance. Please contact events@equalityfederation.org for more information on these options.
Once registered, you will be sent a link to book your stay through our official room block. Details will be shared through email. Look out for more information! All participants, including presenters, are responsible for their own travel and lodging costs. Rooms are limited and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking your lodging early is highly recommended. Coordinate any access needs for your room directly with the hotel.
For the past year, we have worked hand in hand with our partners in Baltimore to design a safety plan rooted in care, dignity, and radical hospitality.Our approach is not one-size-fits-all. We are intentionally centering our safety planning on the lived experiences of our Black and Brown attendees, immigrants and mixed status attendees and others impacted by ICE violence, trans and nonbinary kin, and people with disabilities. We recognize that for these members of our community, safety is not a given—it must be actively cultivated and defended. By designing for those who face the most systemic friction, we ensure a space that is truly safe and accessible for all.
A Culture of Humility: We have partnered with a hotel team specifically trained in LGBTQ+ cultural humility and guest safety. This training focuses on the nuances of intersectionality, ensuring that Black and Brown trans/gender expansive folks are met with the dignity they deserve from the moment they arrive.Movement-Rooted Partnerships: We work exclusively with partners who have deep experience in social justice and racial equity. They don't just provide services; they understand the political stakes of our presence in Baltimore.Real-Time Situational Awareness: We remain in constant coordination with local, state, and federal partners to stay informed on the city’s environment, ensuring our plans are responsive to the specific needs of our community as we approach the Conference.Name Tags: For security reasons, we will not be accepting on-site registrations. This allows us to know in advance who should be in Conference spaces. For more information, please see “The Power of the Badge: Connection & Safety” policy in the Conference Policies.
While we are together, we are providing a wraparound support system designed for the whole person:Bilingual (English/Spanish) Mental Health Support: A local, bilingual (English/Spanish) team will be on-site to provide emotional and mental health services. Trained in de-escalation and trauma-informed resiliency, they are here to hold space—particularly for those navigating the heavy lifting of racial justice work.Embedded Care & Security: The hotel does not require security, but we are committed to keeping our Conference attendees safe. We will have specialized emergency personnel embedded within the Conference. This team provides both medical emergency services and a protective presence for the group, ensuring help is always seconds away. This team will actively monitor the hotel and its surroundings and, this year, will specifically look out for ICE activity in the area. Centered Accessibility: From the wide, paved promenades of the Inner Harbor to our sensory-friendly "quiet zones," we are prioritizing a landscape that honors our disabled attendees' right to move and participate without barriers. See Accessibility section above for more details.Recovery & Spirit: To support our community members in recovery, we are proud to offer 12-step recovery meetings every morning of the Conference.The quiet room can be used for prayer and meditation during the day.Local faith resources will be available in the event app. Looking for someone to go with you? We encourage folks to self-organize using the meet-up function in the event app.Dynamic Travel Guidance: We offer comprehensive travel guidance, including real-time tips and transit information to ensure your movement through the city is seamless, informed, and secure.
Our collective commitment to safety and access requires serious steps to mitigate COVID-19 before, during, and after the Conference. These guidelines reflect our responsibility to protect one another, including our disabled comrades, and are part of a broader public health effort to reduce transmission. Masking Strongly Encouraged While Indoors We are asking attendees, volunteers, and staff to mask. Equality Federation will have KN95 masks available on-site, but we do not have the capacity to provide everyone with a mask for the duration of the Conference. For more information, see: How well do face masks protect against COVID-19?Required COVID-19 testing When checking in at registration, Conference attendees will be required to confirm a negative test within the last 12 hours upon check-in (honor system). We will have limited tests available on-site.Exposure Communication If you test positive for COVID-19 during or after the Conference, please let us know so that we can inform attendees of potential exposure while protecting your anonymity. Please direct any questions regarding our COVID-19 safety protocols or COVID-19 exposure to events@equalityfederation.org.Air Quality Efforts This year’s Leadership Conference will also include additional air filtration in the main ballroom and breakout rooms, and periodic staff review of CO2 levels using an Aranet4.We Protect Us This is a space of collective care, and we ask all attendees to honor and commit to a community of collective care to create a safer, more accessible gathering for everyone.
To support our programming and meet the needs of our community, we have added optional questions during registration to better understand our participants. We appreciate any information you feel comfortable sharing. That said, we value privacy and want to assure you that answering these questions is optional, not required for registration.If you do choose to share any information, we will handle it with the utmost care and respect. Any data you provide will be kept in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with third parties, nor will it be used in a way that could identify you personally. Our goal is to use this information to improve our programming and better serve our community.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact events@equalityfederation.org.
