Equality Federation is a left-of-center advocacy organization that works for LGBT related issues. It is the sister organization of the Equality Federation Institute. The organization does the bulk of its work on the state and local level. It acts as a sponsor and coordinator of state- and local-level LGBT organizations. ¹

Among the stances of the organization is that it is a supporter of sex reassignment for minors, which it calls “gender affirming care.” It also supports allowing kids to go into the restrooms of the opposite natal sex and allowing natal males to compete in girls’ sports based on subjective gender identification. ²

It is also a supporter of the Equality Act on the federal level. The legislation would expand federal protections for LGBT interests and has been criticized as eroding religious freedom. ³

Overview

The Equality Federation is a left-of-center organization that advocates for LGBT-related issues. It primarily works by sponsoring a network of state and local LGBT-interest organizations. ¹

The organization was founded in 1997, and as of 2021 it claims that it has over 40 organizations in its national network and for which it serves as a strategic partner. It also claims that it could mobilize more than 2 million supporters across its network. ¹

The organization works with its partners to advance or defeat bills that are of importance to the LGBT community. It tracks legislation on issues such as discrimination, HIV/AIDS-related legislation, and other bills affecting LGBT interests. ⁴

The organization sponsors an annual leadership conference which is a networking opportunity for its various member organizations. In the past, the Miller Brewing Company has sponsored it. ¹

Issue Stances

The organization is a supporter of allowing kids to get sex change operations, which it calls “gender affirming care.” It also supports allowing people to go into the bathroom that is the opposite of their gender. It also supports allowing boys to play alongside girls in sports. It believes that “trans kids” will miss out on important lessons related to those who play sports such as leadership and teamwork if they are not allowed to play sports with the opposite gender. ²

It is a supporter of the Equality Act on the federal level. The Equality Act would ostensibly promote LGBT rights, but critics also note that it would attack religious freedom. ³ “New National Campaign Advocates for Urgent Passage of the Equality Act.” GLAD, March 23, 2021. https://www.glad.org/post/freedom-and-opportunity-for-all-launch/.[/note]

The organization also believes that intentionally spreading HIV/AIDS should not be a crime. It has supported legislation that would decriminalize that act. It believes that those laws would disincentive people from getting tested for HIV. The organization also supports increased funding for treating HIV/AIDS. ⁵

Leadership

The current executive director of the organization is Fran Hutchins. She became executive director in 2021. She has been with the organization since 2012. Before she joined the Equality Federation, she was a field director for Mainers United for Marriage, where she worked between 2009 and 2012. The organization successfully campaigned for recognition of same-sex marriage in the state of Maine, which resulted in a successful referendum in 2012. A major focus of hers was increasing voter engagement and turnout, which she wants to bring over from her experiences in Maine. ⁶

Hutchins claims credit for helping Democrats win the 2021 U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia. She helped coordinate volunteers among the organization’s network to send texts and make phone calls on behalf of the Democratic candidates in those races. ⁶

Eric Paulk is the chair of the board of directors for the organization. He also serves as the chief of staff for the left-of-center organization ProGeorgia. Before that, he served as deputy director of Georgia Equality. He is also the recipient of a Soros Justice Fellowship. ⁷

Finances

According to its 2020 tax return, it had $147,432 in revenue and $116,500 in expenses. It had $200,078 in assets. ⁸

In 2021, the Miller Brewing Company pledged $250,000 to the Equality Federation as a part of its “Open and Proud” initiative. Overall, the company has donated $350,000 to the organization. ¹

1. “Miller Lite & Equality Federation Introduce ‘Open & Proud’, Helping to Create Safe Spaces at Bars for the LGBTQ Community.” PR Newswire, June 24, 2021. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miller-lite–equality-federation-introduce-open–proud-helping-to-create-safe-spaces-at-bars-for-the-lgbtq-community-301319437.html.
2. Santora, Tyler. “The Fight for Trans Kids’ Rights Has Just Begun.” Fatherly. Fatherly, March 24, 2022. https://www.fatherly.com/life/equality-federation-trans-kids-rights.
3. “New National Campaign Advocates for Urgent Passage of the Equality Act.” GLAD, March 23, 2021. https://www.glad.org/post/freedom-and-opportunity-for-all-launch/.
4. “Improving Coordination in State and Federal LGBTQ Advocacy.” Improving coordination in state and federal LGBTQ advocacy. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.billtrack50.com/case-studies/the-equality-federation/.
5. Kane, Christopher. “Office of National AIDS Policy Director Phillips: Congress Must Increase Funding.” Washington Blade, March 20, 2023. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/03/20/office-of-national-aids-policy-director-phillips-congress-must-increase-funding/.
6. Ferrannini, John. “LGBTQ Agenda: Voter Engagement Goal of New Equality Federation Ed.” Bay Area Reporter, January 14, 2021. https://www.ebar.com/story.php?301072.
7. “Eric Paulk.” Equality Federation. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.equalityfederation.org/board-of-directors/eric-paulk.
8. “Equality Federation – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/810670152.