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EQUALITY FEDERATION
August 16, 2004
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts: Ian Palmquist, 919-349-0936
Andrea Hildebran, 502-387-0625
NATIONAL STATE GAY LEADERS UNVEIL NEW NAME, NEW GROWTH, NEW LEADERSHIP
Equality Federation Brings State Expertise to National Movement
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- The nation’s top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) statewide leaders, representing over 25 organizations from across the country, met this past weekend in Austin, Texas to launch an aggressive new action plan to boost statewide organizing efforts across the country. The newly renamed Equality Federation – formerly known as the Federation of Statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Advocacy Organizations – will hire an executive director and begin implementing programs that build the capacity of its member organizations.
The conference also brought together representatives from seven of the states facing ballot measures that would amend state constitutions to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying and, in many cases, from ever achieving any of the legal protections routinely granted to families, including hospital visitation, parental rights, and access to health insurance.
“The critical importance of strong, well-funded, and well-organized LGBT organizations in every state has never been more evident than in this election year,” said Andrea Hildebran, Executive Director of the Kentucky Fairness Alliance and newly elected Equality Federation Co-Chair. “In nearly a dozen states, the religious right is attempting to constitutionalize discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and their families. These attacks can only be defeated through the efforts and expertise of statewide organizations.”
“The overwhelming majority of legal protections achieved by LGBT Americans has occurred and will continue to occur at the state level,” said Ian Palmquist, Co-Director of Equality North Carolina and newly elected Federation Co-Chair. “The mandate of the Equality Federation is to ensure that the national movement for LGBT equality is strengthened by the expertise of state organizations and leaders.”
The conference was hosted by Equality Federation member Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas. Speakers included openly lesbian Houston City Controller, Annise Parker, and Lawrence v. Texas attorney Mitchell Katine with clients John Lawrence and Tyrone Garner.
Equality Federation Board members were also elected at the conference. In addition to Co-Chairs Andrea Hildebran and Ian Palmquist, board members include Randall Ellis of LGRL Texas, Joshua Freker of Action Wisconsin, Michael Mitchell of Equality Utah, Christopher Neff of Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance in Washington, DC, Stacy Roth of MassEquality.org in Massachusetts, Sharon Semmons of Equality Georgia, Nadine Smith of Equality Florida, Carmen Vasquez of Empire State Pride in New York, and Ron Wheeler of the Coalition for Equality in New Mexico.
Equality Federation was founded in 1997 and has grown to include members from 35 states and the District of Columbia. The Federation provides resources, training and support to its members, and is a forum for states to share strategies and expertise. Equality Federation is uniquely situated to act as the national voice of statewide organizing in the LGBT civil rights movement.
The Equality Federation is a coalition of statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organizations committed to securing full civil rights for LGBT Americans by building the capacity of the movement at the statewide level and supporting state activists and leaders. For more information, visit our website at www.federationlgbt.org.