Hi John,

At Equality Federation, we talk a lot about how your support helps us show up for our state partners. Whether it’s strategizing for stopping bad bills, offering personalized coaching, providing communications and messaging support, or supporting folks with technology and training, we show up for our state partners every single day.

I want to share our work with Louisiana Trans Advocates (LTA) this year so you can see us in action.

Louisiana Trans Advocates is one of our two state partners in their state. Their mission is to advance the core human rights of self-determination and expression for all trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people in Louisiana.

2022 has been a big year for the organization, as they have hired their first paid staff person. Peyton Rose Michelle is leading the organization as Executive Director. Prior to this year, LTA was entirely volunteer-run for over a decade.

In Peyton's words:

“As long as I've done this work I felt so alone, especially in Louisiana. This year I felt super supported. Equality Federation has been the biggest help in making sure we are as powerful and successful as our community needs us to be.”

Make your first donation today to strengthen state-based LGBTQ+ organizations like LTA in all the places we call home. 

Not convinced to donate yet? Read on and learn about five ways that Equality Federation supported Louisiana Trans Advocates this year:

1. Equality Federation Grants

LTA received grants from Equality Federation through the Trans Defense Campaign to support their legislative work. Peyton said, “they were incredibly helpful, and they were LTA's main source of funding for our [legislative]-related activities.”

One of the grants was a C4 Rapid Response Grant that paid for transportation to get people to the capital for LTA’s lobby day. Another was a grant through the Healing Justice Fund. Peyton used this funding to bring queer coalition members to the beach for a healing retreat. “Queer people doing this emotional labor deserve a space to really decompress from all of it,” Peyton said.

2. Advocacy & Civic Engagement

In 2022, Louisiana had a challenging legislative session with 3 anti-transgender bills filed. With resources to support their legislative work, LTA ensured that the healthcare ban for transgender minors did not receive a committee hearing. 

Equality Federation ran a paid call campaign for LTA around Louisiana’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Peyton said, “The call campaign Equality Federation ran was crucial in getting the votes to kill the ‘Don't Say Gay’ bill. TLDR: we couldn't have done this without Equality Federation.”

While the transgender sports ban passed, it was the first anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed in Louisiana in over a decade. Next year — thanks to being a paid staff person — Peyton will take on a larger leadership role with LocALL (Legislative Organizing coalition for All LGBTQ+ Louisianans), a coalition LTA founded in 2021, and will help the powerhouse coalition protect Louisianans from more harmful legislation.

3. Leadership Development 

Peyton is receiving ongoing personalized support for her new role through our New Executive Director Coaching program.

4. Communications Support

Equality Federation partnered with a communications firm to offer support to our state partners. In Louisiana, the firm helped amplify LTA’s efforts to oppose SB 44, an anti-transgender student sports ban. With the help of the communications firm, LTA was able to reach new levels of outreach and highlighted the harmful impact SB44 had on children everywhere and placed pressure on the governor to veto the bill.

5. Development & Fundraising Support

Peyton has worked with our development team to get support on grant proposals, discuss fundraising strategies, and get LTA set up with their first database.

This is one example of the support that we provide to our 44 state partners across the country every day.

Make your first year-end gift today to support Equality Federation and our state partners as we prepare for the work ahead in 2023. After you make your donation to Equality Federation, please consider a gift to support Louisiana Trans Advocates’ work.

Together,

Fran Hutchins
Executive Director
Equality Federation

Equality Federation
818 SW 3rd Ave.
141
Portland, OR 97204-2405
United States

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