Dear John,

Our fearless leader, Rebecca Isaacs, has decided to step down at the end of the year after 10 wonderful years of service as Executive Director of the Equality Federation. As co-chairs of the Equality Federation boards, and on behalf of the board members, we want to take the opportunity to express gratitude for everything she has done to build the Equality Federation into what it is today. We are pleased that she will stay until the end of the year to ensure a seamless transition.

In the last decade, Rebecca has shepherded the organization through a period of strategic growth to meet the needs of the state-based movement for LGBTQ equality. She has helped the organization triple the size of the staff and double the budget by creating programs that have increased LGBTQ civic participation, created coalitions to end the HIV epidemic, and built the leaders and the organizations working on the ground to win equality in the communities we call home. She has moved the organization through a strategic planning process with racial justice as a key pillar of our work. She has grown our “Summer Meeting” into a true Leadership Conference, the premier event (even in its virtual form this year!) for movement leaders to connect and share strategies.

Rebecca’s leadership has been essential to the success of the Federation and will continue to be, thanks to the groundwork she has done to prepare for her departure. Along with clear direction from our strategic plan, she made sure that we are in a strong financial position and has built an amazing team that is positioned to carry on the work in 2021 and beyond.

We have formed a succession committee and anticipate having a new leader in place when Rebecca leaves at the end of the year. We will miss working with her and salute her for her leadership, her history of activism, and all of her achievements.

In solidarity,

Monica Meyer, Chair, Equality Federation
Kellan Baker, Chair, Equality Federation Institute