State-based organizations across the country are advancing major progress in the communities we call home — where the work is hard, but the impact is great.

Nearly every week, we hear about another victory that provides LGBT people with the protection, respect, and dignity they need and deserve, but far too often, these wins go unsung by the broader LGBT movement.

At the Federation, we’re committed to telling the story of these victories. And this time, we're headed to Washington, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and California.

• In June, Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced that health insurance policies sold in the state cannot discriminate against transgender Washingtonians. We applaud our members at Gender Justice League and Equal Rights Washington for their work as part of the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare! Because of their efforts, we’re one step closer to ensuring that transgender people have affordable access to the healthcare they need to live healthy, happy, thriving lives.
• Another healthcare victory happened in Massachusetts, thanks to the work of MassEquality and its partners. Governor Deval Patrick’s administration announced that MassHealth, the state-subsidized health insurance provider, will now cover gender affirmation surgery and other related treatments. The MA Department of Insurance also issued regulatory guidance advising health insurers that they may not discriminate on the basis of gender identity. We join MassEquality in applauding the administration’s efforts to ensure transgender people have equal access to healthcare!
• In Wisconsin, the City of Appleton became the third municipality in the state to pass a fully gender-inclusive nondiscrimination law. The law bans discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression in employment and public accommodations citywide. Fair Wisconsin has been working with cities around the state to expand nondiscrimination policies like that in Appleton, and we congratulate them on a successful effort!
• The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the legal challenge to Senate Bill 1172, the 2012 California law that protects LGBT children from the dangers of conversion therapy. This decision means that LGBT children in California are protected from unethical counselors and therapists engaging in dangerous practices to try to change their sexual orientation or gender expression. Congratulations to Equality California who sponsored and defended this important law!

What else? Let us know about a win in your community, and we’ll feature it in an upcoming edition of Unsung Victories! Just send an email to communications@equalityfederation.org.