 | |
 U.S. State of Pennsylvania | |
| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | LGBT issues |
| Location | |
Area served | Pennsylvania |
| Website | equalitypa |
Formerly called | Center for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights Equality Advocates Pennsylvania |
Equality Pennsylvania is an organization which advocates throughout the state of Pennsylvania for LGBT rights. Equality Pennsylvania also attempts to "advance LGBT-friendly policy and legislative initiatives". [1] The organization is a member of the Equality Federation. [2]
Equality Pennsylvania was founded by Andrew Park in 1996 [3] in Philadelphia as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights. [1] Upon its founding, the Center provided legal services to members of the LGBT community in Philadelphia. The organization specifically provided assistance with HIV/AIDS discrimination and transgender name-change cases for the LGBT community. The organization eventually developed into Equality Advocates PA, which helped to advocate for LGBT rights along with its previous goal of providing legal representation to the LGBT community. Equality Advocates PA was instrumental in defeating constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage in 2006 and 2008. [1] In 2007, the organization also began to help draft LGBT non-discrimination legislation throughout the state. In 2009, Equality Advocates PA reorganized under the name of Equality Pennsylvania. Along with change of name, this reorganization saw the installation of a new board of directors and a new mission, which is to advocate for LGBT rights and LGBT legislation throughout Pennsylvania as a 501(c)(4) organization. The organization also reassigned its legal responsibilities to the Mazzoni Center so it could focus on advocating for equality for LGBT individuals. In 2010, the organization hired Ted Martin to become the Executive Director and opened an office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to help expand the focus of the organization beyond Philadelphia and to allow for easier access to the General Assembly and the Governor. Following Martin's resignation in June 2017, the organization closed its Harrisburg office and established an even greater statewide network through the activation of regional chapters and with board members across the Commonwealth.
Equality Pennsylvania's related entities include:
Equality Pennsylvania routinely endorses candidates seeking office both nationwide and in the state of Pennsylvania. On December 15, 2011, the organization endorsed President Barack Obama in his re-election campaign. [4] Equality Pennsylvania also endorsed numerous candidates during the Pennsylvania State Primaries. These candidates include Brian Sims, whose victory in the Democratic Primary in the 182nd District made him the first openly gay member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. [5] [6]
Equality Pennsylvania, in its role as an advocacy group for LGBT rights, has engaged in numerous political activities. This includes negotiating LGBT non-discrimination legislation throughout the state. Currently, 28 local communities have adopted non-discrimination legislation. Equality Pennsylvania also was instrumental in the establishment of the LGBT Equality Caucus in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. [7] The organization has also partnered with the Freedom to Marry and the Courage Campaign to attempt to convince Senator Bob Casey to support the Respect for Marriage Act. [8]
Equality Pennsylvania is also administers the Equality Pennsylvania PAC, which is a political action committee that supports candidates throughout the state who the organization believes will help "secure and protect equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians and their families". [9]
The Equality Pennsylvania Educational Fund is the 501(c)(3) wing of the organization which looks to "provide educational programming on LGBT issues, conduct research to understand public opinions, mobilize a community of LGBT people and straight allies, and develop campaigns to build public support for fairness and equality". [10]
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest LGBTQ advocacy group and LGBTQ political lobbying organization in the United States. The organization focuses on protecting and expanding rights for LGBTQ individuals, most notably advocating for same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation, and HIV/AIDS advocacy. The organization has a number of legislative initiatives as well as supporting resources for LGBTQ individuals.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is legislation proposed in the United States Congress that would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or, depending on the version of the bill, gender identity, by employers with at least 15 employees.
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Basic Rights Oregon is an American nonprofit LGBT rights organization based in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest advocacy, education, and political organization working in Oregon to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Basic Rights Oregon has a full-time staff, a contract lobbyist, and more than 10,000 contributors, and 5,000 volunteers. It is a 501(c)(4) organization that maintains a 501(c)(3) education fund, a state candidate PAC and a ballot measure PAC. The organization is a member of the Equality Federation.
Equality Ohio is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for full equality for the LGBTQ community. It is the statewide authority advocating for LGBT families with over 30,000 members. It is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 2005 following the passage of Ohio Issue 1, which banned state recognition of same-sex relationships. Equality Ohio's first Executive Director, Lynne Bowman is one of the founders of Equality Ohio and served as its executive director for over 5 years. Sue Doerfer, became Executive Director in December 2009 and announced her resignation in November 2010. She was replaced by Ed Mullen, a former candidate for Illinois State Representative and civil rights lawyer from Chicago., Equality Ohio accepted the resignation of Ed Mullen, effective 29 June 2012. Kim Welter then served as the Interim Executive Director, has served as the Director of Programs and Outreach at Equality Ohio and has five years of experience. She joined the organization in 2008 after serving as the Executive Director of Equality Toledo for over 2 years. In November 2012 the organization hired its fourth Executive Director, Elyzabeth Joy Holford.
Equality California or EQCA is a non-profit civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people in California. It is the largest statewide LGBT organization in the United States and the largest member of the Equality Federation. The organization is currently based in Los Angeles.
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Equality Maryland (EQMD) is a non-profit organization formerly headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, now based in Baltimore. It is the largest organization in Maryland whose activities focus on advocacy and education with regard to LGBT social and political movements. Its mission includes: the passage of laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity; the expansion of Maryland's hate-crimes statute; the increase of domestic partner benefits; the legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Maryland and laws banning the practice of conversion therapy on minors.
LGBT movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century and influential in achieving social progress for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people.
Equality NC (ENC) is the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in North Carolina and is the oldest statewide LGBT equality organization in the United States.
Equality Utah is an American non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which is Utah's largest LGBT rights group based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The organization is a member of the Equality Federation.
EqualityMaine is Maine's oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender political advocacy organization. Their mission, outlined on the organization's website is to "secure equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration."
Brian Kendall Sims is an American politician, activist and attorney. A Democrat, he has been a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 182nd district since 2012. Sims is also a lawyer and advocate for LGBT civil rights. Sims is the first openly-gay elected state legislator in Pennsylvania history. He won re-election on November 6, 2018. He is a candidate for lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the 2022 election.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania face some legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Pennsylvania. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples are eligible for all of the protections available to opposite-sex married couples. Pennsylvania was the final Mid-Atlantic state without same-sex marriage, indeed lacking any form of same-sex recognition law until its statutory ban was overturned on May 20, 2014.
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The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA) is a civil rights advocacy organization founded in June 2010 by Jacob Meister, with a stated mission "to maintain and increase individual rights for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) citizens in Illinois through inter-generational volunteerism and community-driven project-based education, statewide coalition and network building, and leadership in supporting underserved communities with the necessary tools that will equip members of those communities with the resources and confidence to establish equality for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity."
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