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MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
December 9 , 2009
Contact: Jody Cofer
info@kentuckyfairness.org / 270-703-1582
2010 EQUALITY AGENDA
New Project Launched to Address Intersections of Sexual Orientation, Race, and Gender Identity
San Francisco- Equality Federation board members from states across the country, including Jody Cofer of Kentucky Fairness Alliance, returned home from San Francisco yesterday after a two-day retreat intended to set the organization’s agenda for the next year. The Federation plays a critical role in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equal rights movement by delivering resources to the organizations and leaders who organize, educate, and lobby for LGBT people in the communities where they live.
This year, the Board committed itself to launching a multi-state dialogue about the role of our LGBT advocacy organizations in working on issues surrounding race, gender identity, and poverty. “I am very excited by the commitment of Equality Federation board members to a project working on racial, transgender and economic justice,” said Federation board member and Basic Rights Oregon executive director Jeana Frazzini. “We are already doing this kind of work at Basic Rights Oregon and I look forward to sharing what we have learned and engaging with other movement leaders committed to dismantling racism.”
“I am especially pleased by the Board’s desire to better understand the issues faced by transgender people, who overall experience some of the harshest discrimination in our communities,” said Gunner Scott, executive director of Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. “Transgender people face extremely high rates of poverty and transgender people of color are hit especially hard by discrimination.”
Over the next year, Equality Federation will take specific steps to address issues of racial, transgender, and economic justice by training its board, exploring partnerships and funding to support state justice training and projects, and actively working through committees and membership meetings to assess strategies through this justice framework.
During the meeting, Board members also considered improvements to technology services for members, reaffirmed its inclusive membership criteria for state advocacy groups, and discussed the leadership role of state-based organizations in developing the national equality agenda.
'Equality Federation is not simply another national organization,” said Toni Broaddus, Federation Executive Director. “Equality Federation is an alliance of fearless and strategic leaders who care not only about achieving equality, but also about building an inclusive movement from the ground up.”
Kentucky Fairness Alliance (KFA) is a member of the Equality Federation. Board member Jody Cofer said, “A strong state-based movement is critical to advance fair public policy for the LGBT community. KFA is facilitating education efforts around the state and preparing for a busy legislative session. The Federation’s resources and services help us in numerous ways conduct that work.”
Members of the Board of Directors include: Ian Palmquist, Equality North Carolina (Federation Board Chair); Paul Scott, Equality Texas (Equality Federation Institute Board Chair); Ross Levi, Empire State Pride Agenda (Secretary); A.J. Bockelman, PROMO (Treasurer); Mo Baxley, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry; Jody Cofer, Kentucky Fairness Alliance; Jeana Frazzini, Basic Rights Oregon; Mark St. John, Indiana Equality; Gunner Scott, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; David Toth, Equality Maryland; Rhonda White, Tennessee Equality Project; Howard Bayless, Alabama; Alicia Skillman, Triangle Foundation and Julie Brueggemann, Missouri
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Kentucky Fairness Alliance is the leading statewide nonprofit organization that seeks to advance fairness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through leadership development, public education and by encouraging participation in the democratic process. kentuckyfairness.org
Equality Federation works to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in every state and territory by building strong and sustainable statewide organizations in a state based movement. equalityfederation.org
The Ampersand symbolizes the solidarity we are building through Friends & Family, and suggests the inclusiveness we are working toward. It reflects the idea that no one individual, legislator, organization, or city can carry all the water for equality. Our success lies in our solidarity.
