The Trans Defense Campaign

by
March 3, 2022

Trans people belong. In schools, in public spaces, everywhere. However, this legislative session, transgender people have faced countless attacks on their rights.

In 2022, state legislatures introduced 91 anti-trans bills (& counting) - from athlete bans to bathroom bills, from “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” school bills to medical care bans. These bills predominantly target trans youth and are rooted in disinformation and discrimination. The impact of these bills and the dehumanizing discourse advanced in legislative hearings, and the media is devastating for transgender people, their families, and our community. 

In response to the ongoing attacks on the transgender community, Equality Federation is launching a $1M campaign that will demonstrate the unified power of the state-based movement to defeat anti-trans bills and win public support for transgender people. We’re officially making it known that anti-transgender legislation has no place in our efforts for equality. 

Equality Federation is mounting a strategic, learning-centered, and relentless effort to combat anti-transgender state-level legislation. In so doing, we will also work to expand the leadership of transgender people in those campaign efforts. We will coordinate the development and deployment of resources to state organizations to engage in public education and advocacy about trans young people.

 This coordinated deployment will include:

  • Direct cash grants to state organizations facing urgent legislative battles
  • Rapid response mobilization through paid phone and text programs
  • Messaging and communications toolkits and support
  • Opposition research
  • Spokesperson recruitment and training
  • Leadership development
  • Strategic support of state lobbying and grassroots organizing strategies

The Trans Defense Campaign will shift the narrative about trans young people and strengthen movement infrastructure for years to come. 


Join the movement today to stand with transgender people and help advance equality in all the places we call home.

More You might like

Transphobia is a Waste of Money

Investing in furthering transphobic laws is a waste of precious resources, resources that come from our hard work. There are so many other things to invest in instead. 

April 23, 2023
Equality Federation Leader Speaks Out on Trans Youth Participation in Sports

The Biden administration has issued new proposed regulations under Title IX, the federal civil rights law, stating that schools cannot categorically ban transgender students from joining athletic teams consistent with their gender identity.‍The regulations are a response to a coordinated nationwide effort to erase trans people from public life, including 64 bills seeking to bar transgender students athletes from participating in school sports. Since 2021, 20 states have banned trans student athletes from participating in school sports.‍Equality Federation Executive Director Fran Hutchins had the following comment on the proposed regulations:

April 23, 2023
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 23, 2023
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.