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EqSD Attends Equality Federation Meeting of State LGBT Leaders

Monday, 18 August 2008 08:40

Sioux Falls, SD - Karen Mudd of Equality South Dakota just returned from the annual Summer Meeting of Equality Federation, the national alliance of state-based equality organizations. Meeting participants included 120 leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights movement from 34 state organizations and 21 allied groups. Hosted this year by Federation member organization Equality Ohio, the Summer Meeting is the largest gathering of leadership in the lgbt movement. Our State Equality has been a member of the Federation since 2007.

"Equality Federation is the only national organization founded specifically to support the work of organizations like Equality South Dakota," said Karen Mudd, chair of Equality South Dakota. "The annual meeting of state leaders from across the country allows those of us working in the states to share our strategies and to plug in to a larger national strategy focused on achieving state victories."

"State organizing and advocacy work is critical to our movement's ability to achieve full civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans," said Federation executive director Toni Broaddus. "Our state leaders founded Equality Federation to ensure that our state organizations have the resources necessary to do their work, and our annual Summer Meeting is the place that we gather to learn from each other, to plan our strategies for success, and to build a national agenda for lgbt equality."

The Equality Agenda is the Federation's emerging plan for lgbt equality in every state. The Agenda is defined by the work of our state organizations and based on what we know is achievable in each state. It covers the entire range of issues important to lgbt people, including equality in the workplace, in housing, in our schools, and for our families. State goals for affirmative legislation in the states include all members of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

"I am pleased and excited to serve a second term as Chair of the Equality Federation board of Directors," said Lynne Bowman, executive director of Equality Ohio, this year's Summer Meeting host organization. "Equality Federation has been critical to the growth and increasing success of Equality Ohio and of all of our state organizations across the country."

Key national and regional allies of state work sponsored the Summer Meeting, including: the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force; Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN); Lambda Legal; Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD); Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD); and Rockway Institute.

EqualitySouth Dakota works to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in South Dakota. For a complete list of Federation member organizations, go to: www.equalityfederation.org.