National LGBTQ Task Force (92 Articles with 119,225 total views)
News from the National LGBTQ Task Force. The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We're building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you.
February, 2024
National LGBTQ Task Force Convenes 2500+ LGBTQ and Allied Activists at Annual "Creating Change" Conference in New Orleans January 17-21
New Orleans, LA - The National LGBTQ Task Force is holding the nation's foremost political, leadership, and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ+ movement at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans from Wednesday, January 17 to Sunday, January 21, 2024. In its 36th year, the conference is a mix of Institutes, keynote presentations, annual awards, and more than 100 workshops and caucuses. For complete information and a full schedule see www.creatingchange.org
January, 2024
Gutting Asylum System Deadly to Queer and Trans Immigrants, Say Leading LGBTQ Groups
New York, NY (December 14, 2023) - Today, a coalition of the nation's leading LGBTQ organizations, including Immigration Equality, Human Rights Campaign, The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, GLAAD, Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, Transgender Law Center, and Outright International sent a letter to President Biden and Congress cautioning them against trading protections for LGBTQ immigrants in exchange for a one-time spending bill.
December, 2023
National LGBTQ Task Force on Election of New House Speaker
"I would be hard-pressed to think of a worse member to be elected speaker of the house, not simply for LGBTQ communities, but for the American people. Many of my family members have resided in the 4th Congressional district of Louisiana for decades so I know from personal experience his track record on civil rights and minority issues is clear and stark as our community continues to find itself under attack.
Obituary: Amber Hollibaugh
Amber Hollibaugh, 77, activist, organizer, author ("My Dangerous Desires: A Queer Girl Dreaming Her Way Home"), self-educated leading public intellectual in the LGBTQ, feminist, sexual liberation, and economic justice movements, died suddenly of complications of diabetes in her home in Brooklyn October 20, 2023. She is survived by her life partner, award-winning novelist Jenifer Levin and stepsons Mak Levin and Van De Laurier.
November, 2023
Creating Change 2024 Registration Opens
The National LGBTQ Task Force is pleased to announce registration for the 36th Creating Change Conference is now open. Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana, from Wednesday to Sunday, January 17-21, 2024!
October, 2023
Creating Change Launches Proposal Submission Process for 2024 Conference, To Be Held in New Orleans January 17-21
As the National LGBTQ Task Force celebrates our 50th anniversary, we are building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives - and we can't do it without you. Creating Change will be held in New Orleans January 17-21, 2024. For more information go to www.creatingchange.org
September, 2023
New podcast episode: Nat'l LGBTQ Task Force Faith Work Director, Rev. Nicole Garcia and Rev. Eric Eldritch, Pride Interfaith Co-Coordinator at Center Faith
We are thrilled to announce the next episode of our podcast Movement Moments: The National LGBTQ Task Force at 50 is live! This month, we're joined by our own Faith Work Director, Reverend Nicole Garcia and Reverend Eric Eldritch, Pride Interfaith Co-Coordinator at Center Faith. Together, they discuss their own faith journeys, the relationship between queerness and spirituality, and why interfaith organizing plays a vital role in LGBTQ liberation.
August, 2023
New Podcast episode: Sexual Liberation and Queer Organizing with Dr. Jaime M. Grant, Jack Harrison-Quintana, & Ignacio Rivera
The fourth episode of the National LGBTQ Task Force's podcast, Movement Moments, is out! Listen as Jack Harrison-Quintana, Dr. Jaime M. Grant, and Ignacio Rivera talk about all things sex and queer joy - from desire mapping, to stepping into vulnerability, and why sexual liberation is such a crucial element of the LGBTQ movement. Listen here: bit.ly/3ObWiCM
June, 2023
National LGBTQ Task Force Launches "Building Queer Power" Training Series
WASHINGTON, DC, May 10, 2023 - The National LGBTQ Task Force and partner organizations today announces the launch of the "Building Queer Power" Training Series.
Task Force new Movement Moment podcast episode: "I’m Ready For This Fight" - Being LGBTQ in the Military with Tanya Domi & Joe Zuniga
The National LGBTQ Task Force today released the third episode of Movement Moments: The National LGBTQ Task Force at 50, a limited series podcast featuring deep discussions on topical issues facing the LGBTQ community. In honor of Memorial Day, this month's episode highlights Joe Zuniga and Tanya Domi, two trailblazing LGBTQ veterans whose work paved the way for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell in 2011. Listen as these old friends discuss what inspired them to come out, how the Task Force supported their advocacy, and their hopes for the future of the LGBTQ movement. You can download Movement Moments at the link at https://thetaskforce.buzzsprout.com/, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
May, 2023
National LGBTQ+ Task Force Responds to House Vote on HR734
Washington, DC - April 21, 2023 -In an unprecedented move yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass HR734, which would bar transgender girls and young women from participating in student-athletic programs of their choice. This is the first specifically anti-Trans bill to pass at the Federal level.
April, 2023
National LGBTQ Task Force Debuts New Podcast Series Highlighting 50 Years of Advocacy, Organizing, and Intersectionality On International Transgender Day of Vis
MARCH 31st - Today, the National LGBTQ Task Force - the country's oldest LGBTQ advocacy organization - launched a new limited podcast series in honor of their 50th anniversary. Movement Moments: The National LGBTQ Task Force at 50 will span 6 episodes and feature deep discussion on topical issues facing the LGBTQ community today, including attacks on the trans community and the role of faith in movement while also reflecting on key moments throughout Task Force histo
March, 2023
Achebe Betty Powell, Inspiring LGBTQ+ Leader Passes Away
Brooklyn, New York February 24, 2023 - Achebe Betty Powell, 82, an inspiring LGBTQ+ leader and activist passed away on February 21, 2023.
Reaction to SOTU From National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Kierra Johnson
WASHINGTON, DC - February 7, 2023 - The following statement can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "It was vital - and appreciated - that President Biden mentioned the urgent need to pass the Equality Act and actions taken to secure marriage equality. What many people may not realize is that LGBTQ people are at the center of all the issues President Biden spoke about throughout his address. Social security. Fair wages. Medicaid expansion. Access to education. Reproductive justice. Police reform. These are all LGBTQ issues. LGBTQ people are often disproportionately impacted because of the discrimination our community faces every single day. LGBTQ people are not fully able to participate or benefit from all that our country has to offer. For too many queer people, the American dream is out of reach. Instead, the nightmare of physical violence, state sanctioned harassment and bullying in the name of religion is the reality.
Thousands of LGBTQ Activists Gather in SF This Weekend at "Creating Change"
SAN FRANCISCO - The National LGBTQ Task Force - the country's oldest LGBTQ advocacy group - is bringing together more than 3,000 LGBTQ activists and organizers to the 2023 Creating Change conference at the Hilton Hotel Union Square Friday February 17 - Tuesday, February 21.
January, 2023
From 1973 to 2023: National LGBTQ Task Force Celebrates 50 Years of Advocacy, Activism, and Organizing for the LGBTQ Community
WASHINGTON, D.C. The National LGBTQ Task Force - the country's oldest LGBTQ advocacy group - celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023, honoring 50 years of advancing freedom, justice, and equality for LGBTQ people. This milestone year will recognize and celebrate the Task Force's rich history of driving progress within the LGBTQ community, from its early days lobbying the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality as a mental illness and advocating for AIDS funding to longstanding campaigns to Queer the Census, Queer the Vote, work for trans rights, fight for reproductive justice and bringing an intersectional approach to the LGBTQ movement. Beginning with Creating Change, the Task Force's flagship conference for training and mobilizing queer organizers, the upcoming year serves as an opportunity to reimagine what queer activism can look like.
Statement on Brittney Griner Release: National LGBTQ Task Force
"From day one, our hearts have been with Brittney Griner, her wife Cherelle, her family and countless fans. So many raised their voices to call for her return, a movement to #freeBG that included the WNBA, the LGBTQ community around the world and millions of fans and others. Number 42 has been hanging on my wall as a daily reminder of the violence and discrimination Black people, LGBTQ folks and women regularly endure in this country and around the world. After being held for months in a Russian prison on drug charges, we are overjoyed and relieved she has been released today in a one-for-one prisoner swap for international arms dealer Viktor Bout. We thank President Biden and all those who relentlessly negotiated and advocated for her release and return to her family. Now her jersey will be a celebration and reminder of the resilience of our people and the power of our community
November, 2022
National + State LGBTQ Orgs To Go Up With Quarter Million Ad Blitz To Fight Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Ahead of Midterms
Washington D.C. October 19, 2022 - Leading national and state-based LGBTQ groups, the National LGBTQ Task Force, Equality Texas, and Equality Florida are joining forces to make national, Texas and Florida-based ad buys that highlight extremist attacks against our communities and our freedoms. As the nation reels from the overturning of Roe v. Wade, anti-gay rhetoric and calls to roll back LGBTQ rights have also grown bolder among extremist elected officials and candidates.
National LGBTQ Task Force Launches "Ban the Repro Binary," Prominent LGBTQ+ and Allied Men in Short Videos Connect Queer Rights + Repro Rights
Washington, DC. November 1, 2022 - The National LGBTQ Task Force has produced a public education campaign to expand the LGBTQ community's understanding of reproductive justice and encourage cis men to support the fight for reproductive rights. The campaign _ "Ban the Reproductive Bina consists of several powerful short videos from a diverse set of male-identified voices in the LGBTQ+ community. The project was produced with funding from the Pop Culture Collaborative
October, 2022
Biden Administration Hosts First Bisexual Health Equity Roundtable; Bi+ Community Leaders Share Stories, Stats
[Washington, D.C., September 20, 2022]: For Bisexual Awareness Week, fifteen bisexual and pansexual community leaders will meet with federal agency officials at the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss remedies to the shocking health disparities facing the bisexual community--a community that comprises more than half of the LGBT population.
September, 2022
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Statement on Florida Primaries: Organization to Continue 'Queer the Vote' Campaign Through Midterm Elections
August 24, 2022, Washington, D.C - With staff and canvassers on the ground in Lakeland and Hillsborough Counties the past several weeks, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund released the following statement following last night's primary results. The following statement can be attributed to Mayra Hidalgo Salazar, Deputy Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund: "It was difficult, as someone who grew up in Lakeland and Central Florida, to see non-partisan races sullied by intense partisan politics. At a time where young people have been the target of bills and rhetoric that do everything BUT keep them safe, we will all need to redouble our efforts following last night's primary.
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement on Griner Sentencing: "Excessive and Wrong...Bring Brittney Home"
August 4, 2022 - The following can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force: "This sentence is both excessive and wrong. We have watched for months as Brittney Griner has been used as a political pawn, even as she has made clear that she did not intend to break any laws. Her case has mobilized millions of people - not just fans but anyone concerned with human rights.
July, 2022
National LGBTQ Task Force Reaction to Recent Religion Freedom Scotus Rulings
June 27, 2022 - The following statement can be attributed to Liz Seaton, Policy Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: Upending decades of precedent that protected the religious freedom of students across the country and strongly supported our Democracy in our pluralistic society, today the U.S. Supreme Court took another extreme step to further erode the long-standing church-state separation in the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise clauses. Six right-wing justices voted as a bloc that public schools can take no action when a public high school football coach, while on duty and responsible for students, kneels and prays at the center of a school event (in this case, a football game).
June, 2022
Breaking: React From National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund on Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) Cloture Vote
The statement below can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund: "Once again, conservative political extremists and Senators from both parties blocked a vote on, let alone passage of the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA). The final vote was 49 yay, 51 nay. Our Senators, sent to Washington to do the people's work, continue to support filibuster to the detriment of the people who put them office. Here the filibuster rule wrongly enabled a minority of Senators to block what the people of this country need and want. The WHPA is federal legislation - passed by the House on September 24, 2021 - designed to bar states from enacting laws to restrict access to abortion to people who need it.
National LGBTQ Task Force on Leak of Draft Scotus Decision to Overturn Roe V. Wade
The following can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "This morning, the nation woke up to the horrifying news that a draft decision from the Supreme Court related to the overturning of Roe v. Wade signals a full reversal by the court and the potential to undermine and overturn other important decisions impacting LGBTQ people, people of color, and others whose rights were won after the Constitution was ratified.
Statement on the Passing of Urvashi Vaid, Activist and Past Task Force Executive Director
WASHINGTON, DC - May 14, 2022 - Legendary attorney, LGBTQ activist, and author Urvashi Vaid, known for her extensive career an advocate for LGBTQ rights, women's rights, anti-war efforts, immigration justice and many other social causes, died today at age 63 in her home in New York City. She was the Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force from 1989- 1992 and served prior to that as Media Director.
Trans Seminarian Leadership Cohort Application Open for 2022/2023 - Applications deadline is Monday, June 20, 2022
May 3, 2022 - Washington, DC - For nine years, the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion, the Freedom Center for Social Justice and the National LGBTQ Task Force have sponsored a program for transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming seminarians in the United States. The program's goal is to encourage trans students during their training for religious leadership to complete their degrees, follow their vocation, and embrace the fact that their impact as faith leaders can and should extend beyond their chosen settings for ministry and service to include the welfare of the broader communities in which they live. This is the only program that we are aware of that addresses the unique challenges and gifts of trans seminarians.
April, 2022
Leading Black LGBTQ+ Leaders Support Black LGBTQ+/SGL Russian Asylum Seekers; Calls For Global Prayer For Brittney Griner To Be Brought Home
WASHINGTON, DC - March 9, 2022 - Over the weekend, it was reported that WNBA Center Brittney Griner was detained at a Russian airport last month and subsequently jailed.
National LGBTQ Task Force Reaction to Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
March 11, 2022 - The following can be attributed to Liz Seaton, Policy Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "The National LGBTQ Task Force announces that the bipartisan omnibus spending package President Biden signed today contains reauthorization of the landmark Violence Against Women Act. From 2013 to 2019 when VAWA expired, it has prohibited discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity by those providing help to victims. While it does so much more, this Act creates the first grant program dedicated to expanding and developing initiatives specifically for LGBTQ domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Our sister organization, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, participated in a working group on bill language and advocated for its passage.
March, 2022
Statement of Liz Seaton, Policy Director on the Senate’s Failure to Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act
February 28, 2022 - "Once again, the filibuster enables a minority of Senators to block what the people of this country need and want. Today conservative political extremists blocked passage of the Women's Health Protection Act by a vote of 48 to 46. The WHPA is federal legislation - passed by the House by a strong vote of 218 to 211 on September 24, 2021 - designed to guarantee access to abortion to people who need it.
February, 2022
"Creating Change Remixed" Scheduled for March 19-20 With Virtual Format
January 20, 2022….Washington, DC…. The National LGBTQ Task Force's Creating Change conference, which was recently changed to a virtual format due to the on-going impact of the COVID pandemic, will now be held March 19-20, 2022.
Statement from Kierra Johnson, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Exec Director on Voting Rights Under Attack and Upcoming Actions Related to Democracy Bills
"The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund urges the U.S. Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Statement From National LGBTQ Task Force Re: Freedom to Vote, John R. Lewis Act Loss
The following statement can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund: "The failure to enact the Freedom to Vote, John R. Lewis Act is a profound blow to our Democracy. The inability to ensure voting rights for Black and Brown people and other vulnerable groups like LGBTQ people lays at the feet of those who voted "nay." These are the votes of political extremists, whose fear of losing power has become a justification for carving out LGBTQ+ folks, People of Color, women, poor people and other already marginalized groups from the political process.
January, 2022
Creating Change Announces Additions: Amy Walter of Cook Report, Emcee Sandra Valls, Alok and Beverly Little Thunder
Tuesday December 14, 2021, Washington, D.C. - After almost two years of grappling with a global pandemic, hundreds of LGBTQ+ activists will be coming together in-person with a shared focus for safety and action. The National LGBTQ Task Force will host the 34th Creating Change Conference in New Orleans, LA, from January 12-16, and we remain committed to creating a safe conference through a wide range of COVID policies while providing the always unique and powerful experience of being in community to network, learn and plan for the coming year.
Creating Change Conference Pivots to Virtual Event
December 22, 2021 - Washington, DC - The National LGBTQ Task Force today announced that the 34th annual Creating Change conference, slated for January 12-16 at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, will now be held virtually. The dates for the virtual conference will be announced shortly.
National LGBTQ Task Force Reacts to SCOTUS Decision on Texas Abortion Ban
December 9, 2021 - The following can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: Today, the Supreme Court upheld the restrictive and discriminatory abortion ban in Texas to continue, which will harm women and pregnant people, especially in communities of color. People in Texas and states considering similar bans across the country will continue living in fear and a state of on-going legal battles to access constitutionally protected medical care. The high court's allowing abortion providers to file federal lawsuits against laws like Texas' may seem like a step forward, but we know the truth: it can take years for cases to make their way through the courts. This decision creates a long road of more litigation, challenges and worst of all, obstacles for individuals seeing access to abortion and related reproductive healthcare.
December, 2021
Landmark Study of LGBTQ+ Women Who Partner with Women Gains Record Participation Data Collection Continues through Early 2022
New York, NY - December 3, 2021 - After four months in the field, the first comprehensive national community survey of LGBTQ+ womxn who center and partner with women has compiled survey data from more than 5,500 participants. The survey can still be taken. The survey link can be found and shared at www.lgbtqwomensurvey.org and the deadline for participation has been extended to March 31, 2022.
SCOTUS Reaction Statement from Task Force Executive Director, Kierra Johnson
WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2021 - The following is a statement from Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force: "Reports and analysis coming out of Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization are extremely disturbing and represent a threat to our individual constitutional rights to privacy and autonomy. There is no 'middle ground' on what the Constitution guarantees and what was decided decades ago with the Roe v Wade decision.
November, 2021
Creating Change Conference, "Reunite and Reignite" Coming to New Orleans January 2022, Registration Now Open
November 1, 2021, Washington, D.C. - The National LGBTQ Task Force has opened registration for the Creating Change Conference, the largest LGBTQ+ activist conference in the U.S. The Conference will be held in-person in host city New Orleans, LA on January 12-16, 2022.
National LGBTQ Task Force Reaction to Anti-LGBTQ+ and Other Comments by North Carolina Lt. Governor Mark Robinson
October 14. 2021 - The following can be attributed to Kierra Johnson, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "First and foremost, the National LGBTQ Task Force stands with all LGBTQ+ and allied North Carolinians horrified, hurt and offended by the latest rhetoric, misinformation and outright lies coming from Lt. Governor Mark Robinson.
September, 2021
As our current struggles show, understanding our past counts - An interview with Cathy Renna (She/her/hers)
In 1973, when I was six, most states had sodomy laws, homosexuality was considered a mental illness, and it was not uncommon for youth who came out to be institutionalized. In October 1973, Dr. Howard Brown, Martin Duberman, Barbara Gittings, Ron Gold, Frank Kameny, Nathalie Rockhill, and Bruce Voeller founded The National Gay Task Force, today known as the National LGBTQ Task Force. Over the next four decades, the Task Force would play an instrumental role in establishing a new narrative in the fight for equality.
August, 2021
ICYMI: New Research Indicates LGBTQ People of Color Experience Higher Rates of Discrimination, Underscores Urgent Need for Senate to Pass Equality Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Discrimination inflicts profoundly greater harm on LGBTQ people of color in a wide range of areas, according to recent analysis of scholarly research released by the National Black Justice Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National LGBTQ Task Force, and Freedom for All Americans. The research underscores the urgent need for the Senate to pass the Equality Act - landmark federal legislation that would modernize and improve our nation's civil rights laws by including explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people, women, and people of color - and reveals how LGBTQ people of color experience grossly disproportionate rates of discrimination and as a result poorer mental and physical health, greater economic insecurity, and an increased number of attempts to die by suicide.
July, 2021
Research Brief Documents the Shockingly Disproportionate Harms Discrimination Inflicts on LGBTQ People of Color
June 16, 2021. Today, a coalition of leading LGBTQ rights groups joined together to release the most extensive summaries to date of scholarly data on the intersection of anti-LGBTQ and racial discrimination. The research brief, authored by the What We Know Project at Cornell University, found overwhelming consensus among peer-reviewed and other studies that discrimination inflicts profoundly greater harm on LGBTQ people of color in a wide range of areas, including grossly disproportionate rates of experiencing discrimination over the past year, poorer mental and physical health, greater economic insecurity, and attempts to die by suicide. In addition, LGBTQ people of color are more likely than white LGBTQ people to live in states without protections against discrimination and that state anti-LGBTQ laws harm LGBTQ people.
June, 2021
National organizations release report detailing policy, legal, educational, and interpersonal actions for LGBTQ-inclusive sex education
(Washington, DC - May 25, 2021) - Today, leading policy and health organizations released a major new report detailing the urgent need for LGBTQ+-inclusive sex education programs and supports. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth - particularly those who are at the intersection of multiple marginalized communities - need to be able to learn in settings that are inclusive of their experiences and that give them the necessary tools to stay safe and healthy. However, whether legally barred or simply ignored, LGBTQ+-inclusive sex education is not available for most youth, especially for LGBTQ youth who are Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC).
April, 2021
National LGBTQ Organizations Propose Stamps Honoring LGBTQ Trailblazers Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Jose Julia Sarria
San Diego, CA: The United States oldest LGBTQ organization; the International Imperial Court System (IICS) of the United States, Canada, and Mexico (founded in 1965), and the oldest LGBTQ civil rights organization; the National LGBTQ Task Force (founded in 1973), have launched a national campaign asking the US Post Office Department to issue stamps honoring LGBTQ icons and trailblazers; Bayard Rustin, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Jose Julio Sarria.
National LGBTQ+ Women's Survey Confronts Lack of Attention to Women's Needs in the Movement
March 8, 2021 - A group of seasoned activists and scholars have formed an independent national research project focused on the concerns of LGBTQ+ women. The initiative is spearheaded by veteran lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid, one of the first women of color to lead a national LGBTQ organization (1989). Over 100 organizations have joined on as partners, (www.lgbtqwomensurvey.org) seeking to center the concerns of LGBTQ+ women for policy-makers and advocates.
New National Campaign Advocating for Urgent Passage of the Equality Act Launches With Support from Hundreds of Nation's Top Leaders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 23, 2021 — Today, a new national campaign advocating for urgent passage of the Equality Act launched with support from hundreds of the nation’s top leaders in civil rights, faith, education, health care, and advocacy. The Freedom & Opportunity For All campaign will continue growing the nationwide effort (already supported by hundreds of the nation’s top business leaders) advocating for the Equality Act — historic federal legislation that would modernize and improve our nation’s civil rights laws by including explicit, permanent protections for LGBTQ people, as well as women, people of color, and people of all faiths. The Equality Act passed the House with bipartisan support last month and had its first-ever hearing in the Senate last week.
February, 2021
President Biden Signs Multiple Executive Orders, Impacting LGBTQ and Other Diverse Communities On First Day In Office
January 20, 2021- The following can be attributed to Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force "Today, we saw newly elected President Biden sign executive orders that exemplify the kind of leadership and breadth of understanding of what we face as a nation and as a community.
January, 2021
"Creating Change" Announces Program Line Up, Award Recipients for First Ever Virtual Conference
WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2020 - Community leaders Gloria Allen, Lisbeth Melendez Rivera, Javier Hernandez, and Gayle Rubin will all be honored at the 33rd annual Creating Change Conference. Held virtually from January 28 through January 31, 2021, the conference will include four plenary sessions, 16 day long institutes, and 48 workshop and caucus sessions.
Creating Change 2021 Workshops and events announced: Politics, Religion, Sexuality and more
WASHINGTON, DC, December 28, 2020 - The organizers of the Creating Change Conference today announced the full slate of workshop and other sessions organized for the 33rd annual conference. From activism to faith to fundraising, with some timely twists on popular workshops like "Sex in the Times of COVID," the Creating Change conference will have programs of interest to diverse activists and cover a lot of ground in this unique time for LGBTQ+ communities.
December, 2020
Join Thousands of LGBTQ Activists for "Creating Change"
WASHINGTON, DC, November 19, 2021 - Thousands of LGBTQ advocates, activists, leaders, and allies will, for the first time ever, gather virtually for the 33rd Creating Change Conference from January 28 through January 31, 2020.
November, 2020
National LGBTQ Task Force and AWN Release Tips and Advice for Autistic Trans People
October 14, 2020, Washington, DC…..Today, the National LGBTQ Task Force and the AWNNetwork released a collaborative guide for , "Before You Go: Know Your Rights & What to Expect at the Doctor and in the Hospital," a groundbreaking first of its kind publication filled with tips and advice for autistic trans people about finding and going to doctors. The publication was co-authored by Sharon daVanport, Victoria M. Rodríguez-Roldán, and Lydia X. Z. Brown with illustrations by Erin Casey. It will be available HERE from AWN's website.
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement Re: Passing Of Transgender Advocate, Journalist Monica Roberts
>October 8, 2020 - "This week, the LGBTQ+ community lost one of our fiercest voices in Monica Roberts, an activist who not only lifted up the stories of trans people and inspired generations of countless transgender and non-binary people but all those who knew her. She was a mother, sister, aunt, friend, protector and voice for the voiceless. Her journalism was groundbreaking, her advocacy impactful and her spirit and passion limitless. There are people - especially trans members of our community - who are alive and thriving today because of her work," said Rea Carey, Executive Director.
October, 2020
Creating Change Conference Announces October 10 Day-Long Event, "Queering Racial Justice"
September 21, 2020….Washington, DC…. The National LGBTQ Task Force and Creating Change will hold a day-long event (12:30 ET to 6:30 ET) exploring how Queer/Trans People of Color (QTPOC) activism is leading the resistance to state sanctioned violence. The day will include a plenary, speakers, skills building sessions and discussion of community organizing strategies for collective liberation.
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement re: Supreme Court Appointment Process
The following can be attributed to Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "We expected the Supreme Court nominee to be someone that will work to dismantle the rights of LGBTQ and other marginalized communities for decades, block reproductive and voting rights, threaten healthcare access for millions and more. We were right. With the November election already underway and our democracy on the line, we must work on two fronts: delay or stop this unfair, hypocritical process to fill the vacancy and mobilize like never before for this election and put individuals in the White House, the Senate and our statehouses that respect equality and fairness. Only a small portion of LGBTQ people who are eligible to vote chose to cast a vote in key states in the last election. Go to www.queerthevote.org to learn more about voter registration mail in voting, early voting, and in person voting."
August, 2020
Creating Change Conference Goes Virtual In 2021: Leading LGBTQ+ Activist Conference To Be Held Online
Washington, DC - uly 16, 2020…..For the first time in its 33-year history, the Creating Change Conference will be a completely virtual event. Given the ongoing public health crisis and current safety regulations, we will be unable to host Creating Change as an in-person convening in Washington, DC, in January 2021.
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement Re: HUD Proposed Regulations For Homeless Shelter Access For Trans And Non-Binary
July 23, 2020 - "It is clear that Trump and Carson don't understand the people they are responsible for serving, and this rule makes it clear that they also don't understand the law. The inept drafting of this rule would be laughable if it didn't have so much potential to cause harm..." The following statement can be attributed to Megan Maury, Policy Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: "This morning, the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formally published a proposed regulation on how service providers should interpret nondiscrimination protections for transgender and nonbinary people who need access to homeless shelters. Not only does the proposed rule lay bare Carson and Trump's transphobic views, it is riddled with misunderstandings of the law and functional impossibilities.
Statement By National LGBTQ Task Force On 30th anniversary Of The Passage Of The ADA
July 23, 2020 - Statement By Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force, On The 30th anniversary Of The Passage Of The Americans With Disabilities Act: "Three decades ago today, the National LGBTQ Task Force was proud to be part of the group of advocates who successfully lobbied for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities act, specifically working to make the ADA inclusive of people living with HIV/AIDS. The ADA included prohibitions for discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS at the height of the pandemic in employment, public accommodations and public transportation and other spaces. It was a historic victory at a time for the LGBTQ civil rights movement.
April, 2020
April 1: National LGBTQ Task Force Joins Hundreds Of Advocacy Organizations For "Everyone Counts" On Census Day
WASHINGTON, DC - On April 1, 2020, the National LGBTQ Task Force, a Census Counts campaign partner organization, is celebrating Census Day by mobilizing LGBTQ people across the country to get counted in the 2020 Census. Starting today, the National LGBTQ Task Force will host a series of educational webinars, host office hours online where people can find answers to their questions, and work with volunteers to make thousands of phone calls to LGBTQ people to make sure they know how to fill out the Census. All of these events, including registration information, can be found on the www.queerthecensus.org website.
February, 2020
Trump's Religious Doublespeak Harms LGBTQ People
(January 16, 2020, Dallas, TX) - Responding to Trump's latest attack on LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities, and people of color on National Religious Freedom Day, National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey gave this statement: "National Religious Freedom Day should be about how we as a society make space for diverse people of faith as well as those who do not observe. Instead we are facing an administration that uses religion as a tool of oppression. The regulations released today by the Trump administration will empower social service providers who want to discriminate to do so with impunity. The stated reason for the new rules is to 'remove burdens' on providers, but serving women, people of color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ people is not a burden. Instead, these rules reinforce the power of people with privilege at the expense of people who have been marginalized.
April, 2019
National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Applauds Introduction of "Equality Act"
(Washington, D.C. - March 12, 2019 The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund applauds Representative David Cicilline and Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin, and Corey Booker for reintroducing the Equality Act in the U.S. House and Senate this week.
October, 2018
On Immigration, Trump Continues to Push a Message of Fear
WASHINGTON-DC - September 24, 2018: Donald Trump's cruelty toward immigrants didn't end after he separated children from their parents at the border. Now, Trump's latest attack on immigrant families is meant to scare potential immigrants and green card applicants into not applying for public assistance for themselves or their children.
September, 2018
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement on the First Anniversary of Charlottesville Attack
WASHINGTON-DC - August 10, 2018: A year ago, our nation witnessed white nationalists, white supremacists, alt-right, and Neo-Nazis clustered in Charlottesville demanding that Black, Jewish, Muslim, immigrant, nonwhite, and LGBTQ people step aside so that they could "take their country back." As their chief spokesman, Donald Trump justified their abhorrent words and murderous actions and refused to acknowledge their culpability. Now one year later, Jason Kessler and other rally organizers are even more emboldened with plans to bring their message of hate to the nation's capital.
Senate Should Not Even Be Considering Trump's Extreme Nominee
WASHINGTON-DC - September 4, 2018: With Donald Trump now an unindicted co-conspirator in multiple crimes against the United States, it is unconscionable that the Senate is still set to hold hearings for his right-wing nominee to the US Supreme Court.
The National LGBTQ Task Force: Journalism Should Be Protected and Honored
WASHINGTON-DC: August 15, 2018 In the lead up to over 200 news outlets taking a stand against attacks on the free press, the National LGBTQ Task Force is announcing that it will be honoring two out journalists at their annual gala.
July, 2018
National LGBTQ Task Force condemns the shameful decision by SCOTUS to uphold Trump's latest Muslim ban
WASHINGTON-DC: On June 26, the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) ruled in favor of Donald Trump's ban on immigrants from seven countries, almost all of which are predominantly Muslim, in Trump v. Hawaii. The National LGBTQ Task Force condemns the decision as an outright attack on freedom and liberty for Muslims. In addition, it jeopardizes the lives of LGBTQ people who may be fleeing hostile governments.
April, 2018
National LGBTQ Task Force: Everyone Deserves to be Counted in the 2020 Census
Washington, DC, March 27, 2018: The following statement can be attributed to Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force: The announcement last night that the Trump administration is adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census is another methodical step in its attempt to silence immigrants and cast them into the shadows. The Census is a constitutionally-mandated process that directs billions of dollars in federal funds and determines our representation in Congress. If a citizenship question is added to the form it will do irreparable harm to the core concept of a fair and accurate 2020 Census count. The Census Bureau's own research concluded that adding this untested question will cause depressed response rates. That is the opposite of what we need. Everyone in America – immigrant, LGBTQ, urban, homeless, etc. – deserves to be counted. The Census impacts everything from the boundaries of our school districts to the enforcement of our civil rights; we can't afford the consequences of this decision.
National LGBTQ Task Force: It's time to reevaluate the role of guns in America
WASHINGTON-DC - March 19, 2018: The National LGBTQ Task Force released a new platform on gun policy that condemned the myth that mental health is linked to gun violence, while at the same time it laid out how police brutality, racism, transphobia, homophobia, and misogyny are all part of the gun violence problem.
National LGBTQ Task Force: Unearthed emails prove DOJ shamefully halted LGBTQ inclusion in Census
In response to a new FOIA release on Department of Justice influence on the Census, Meghan Maury, Policy Director at the National LGBTQ Task Force, released this statement: (Washington, DC, March 8, 2018) -- "The Census should count LGBTQ people because we count. New information uncovered about the Trump administration confirms that the Department of Justice chose to halt the Census Bureau's progress toward adding sexual orientation and gender identity questions to the Census. The Census controls billions of dollars in federal funding, determines our representation at the state and federal levels, and impacts scores of other programs like how our school districts are drawn.
March, 2018
LGBTQ Working People Would Lose if the Supreme Guts Unions in Janus v. AFSCME
Washington-DC - February 26, 2018: LGBTQ advocates call out the dangerous threat to LGBTQ working people that the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case represents. On February 26, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, a case that could squeeze labor unions, if the court rules that some workers do not need to pay for the union representation they receive.
February, 2018
The National LGBTQ Task Force: HHS's new Division on Conscience and Religious Freedom is about legalizing discrimination
WASHINGTON-DC - January 18. 2018: In response to Health and Human Services announcement January 18 of a Division on Conscience and Religious Liberty, Rea Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force issued the following statement: We are not fooled: The new office announced this morning is meant to make it easier for people to discriminate, not to protect people of faith. Health professionals have a duty to care for all their patients regardless of one's gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, creed, race, political views, gender, or disability, and no one should be denied care for being who they are.
Thousands of LGBTQ Activists, Allies to Attend Creating Change Conference in Washington, DC
(Washington, DC) January 17, 2018, The National LGBTQ Task Force's Creating Change Conference is celebrating its 30th year and takes place Wednesday, January 24 through Sunday, January 28 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC. The Creating Change Conference is the foremost political, leadership, and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ social justice movement, convening over 3,500 LGBTQ activists from around the country to learn, connect, and resist.
January, 2018
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement: Our lives and our needs must not be censored
Washington, DC, - December 16, 2017: Responding to Trump Administration attempts to censor CDC budget documents including the word "transgender," Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force stated: President Trump is clearly hostile to the LGBTQ community, women, and science.
National LGBTQ Task Force: Masterpiece Cakeshop Case Could Roll LGBTQ Rights Back A Half-Century
(Washington, DC, December 5, 2017) -- The National LGBTQ Task Force was out at full strength on the steps of the Supreme Court to rally for the court to uphold the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the lead up to the court hearing oral arguments in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The case is about showing that religion should never be an acceptable reason to refuse services to anyone.
National LGBTQ Task Force: Trump lowers himself after shocking dismissal of the Presidential Council on HIV/AIDS
WASHINGTON-DC: January 2, 2018 President Donald Trump's dismissal of the remaining members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS is an eye-opening reminder that his strategy on HIV is to ignore the problem and ignore the people living with HIV.
National Religious Leadership Roundtable calls out Catholic Bishops' ill-conceived, trans-denying letter
(December 22, 2017 - Washington, DC) After a group of anti-LGBTQ religious leaders drafted a letter about the transgender community that claimed transgender people are a "false" idea, the National LGBTQ Task Force's National Religious Leadership Roundtable offered up some advice: reach out and connect with transgender people – you obviously know little about their lives, struggles, victories and aspirations.
Since Trump won't let LGBTQ and Black reporters come to his holiday party, the Task Force will throw a party of its own
(Washington, DC, December 11, 2017) In response to the White House snubbing LGBTQ and Black reporters, the National LGBTQ Task Force is hosting its own holiday party for the press, titled Not The White House Holiday Party.
December, 2017
Mr. President, for World AIDS Day, the National LGBTQ Task Force would like to give you an education on HIV
WASHINGTON-DC: December 1, 2017 Looking at President Donald Trump's proclamation for World AIDS Day one might think HIV was not an issue for people of color or the LGBTQ community, since the president's statement did not mention either. Perhaps the president forgot, or didn't know any better, so we at the Task Force would like to give the president a much-needed education on HIV
November, 2017
Trump is Trying to Single-Handedly Sabotage Access to Health Care!
WASHINGTON-DC, October 12, 2017 - Today, President Trump signed an executive order that will decimate access to care for those who need it most. The following statement can be attributed to Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force: "Trump's executive order undermines key protections provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that prevent discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions. Included in the executive order is a directive to expand access to plans that fail to offer necessary services, like mental health and substance use care, pregnancy and childbirth care and prescription drug coverage. Promoting skimpier plans will ultimately make costs higher for the people who need health care the most, like the 65% of LGBTQ people who live with a pre-existing condition.
October, 2017
Movement to End Police Violence in St. Louis is Met with Police Violence
WASHINGTON-DC - October 3, 2017: The National LGBTQ Task Force strongly condemns the ongoing police assaults of peaceful demonstrators in St. Louis as near daily protests continue following the verdict of not guilty in a first-degree murder case involving St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley. St. Louis Circuit Judge Timothy Wilson announced his not guilty verdict on Friday, September 15 in Stockley's killing of Anthony Lamar Smith, a black man. Like the community's response to the police officer's exoneration in the killing of Mike Brown, St. Louisans have protested the Stockley verdict in the streets, at the malls, and frequently within the area surrounding Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals.
National LGBTQ Task Force Fights Trump Census Bureau Erasure
WASHINGTON-DC - September 27, 2017 : On Tuesday, the Census Bureau announced that it is removing the planned sexual orientation question from a national survey "Who and how the Census counts has enormous consequences for resource distribution, representation and LGBTQ protections," said Rea Carey, National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director. "We shouldn't have to keep telling this administration that we count. In case we weren't clear: we count. Our experiences matter. Our needs matter, so count us."
National LGBTQ Task Force Response to DeVos Action on Title IX
WASHINGTON, DC, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017: The following statement can be attributed to Stacey Long Simmons, Director of Advocacy and Action, National LGBTQ Task Force: "Today's announcement by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration to revise guidance on campus sexual assault points to a reversal of needed protections, especially for LGBTQ students and students with disabilities. Shame on DeVos and the Trump-Pence Administration for yet another example of their utter disregard for those who are most marginalized.
National LGBTQ Task Force Statement On Census Victory
WASHINGTON-DC - September 28, 2017: Today, the US Census Bureau reversed a previous decision to exclude a question on sexual orientation from the Census Barriers, Attitudes and Motivators Study. In response to this victory, Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force, issued the following statement: "Make no mistake - public pressure on the Trump Administration works. It was messages from the members of the National LGBTQ Task Force and our partner organizations that compelled the Census Bureau to reverse their appalling decision to stop counting us. Thanks to the efforts of people across the country, the Census will continue collecting data about sexual orientation. We also will continue to push them to collect data about gender identity. Data about the LGBTQ community is absolutely crucial to ensuring that we are distributed the resources we need, that we are represented, and that the most vulnerable in our community are protected."
September, 2017
Statement From The National LGBTQ Task Force On Violence In Charlottesville
WASHINGTON-DC - August 12, 2017: In response to the White Supremacist rally in Charlottesville, VA, the National LGBTQ Task Force has issued the following statement: The following can be attributed to Stacey Long Simmons, Esq., Director of the Advocacy and Action Department of the National LGBTQ Task Force: "The violence we are witnessing is horrifying, but is merely the latest manifestation of the growing racist, anti-immigration, anti-Semitic, sexist and anti-LGBTQ hate in our midst. The continuing escalation of hate and white nationalist sentiment we are experiencing during the Trump administration has come to this - targeted violence in the streets of Virginia led by the Klu Klux Klan and Neo-Nazi organizations. The National LGBTQ Task Force will not stand by and watch the very fabric of this nation torn apart by hate. We will stand with our immigrant, Muslim, African-American, Latino, AAPI, disabled and all marginalized people targeted by the hate and discrimination coming from all directions, from the White House to the streets of Charlottesville."
August, 2017
DOJ Seeks To Undermine Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Protections
WASHINGTON-DC - July 27, 2017: Last night, the Department of Justice filed an amicus brief in Zarda v. Altitude Express arguing that sexual orientation is not covered under Title VII's non-discrimination protections.
LGBTQ Advocates Relieved Senate Fails to Pass TrumpCare Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. July 19, 2017 -U.S. Senators Moran and Lee have refused to vote on the so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), erasing the Republican party's hope of gaining 50 votes in favor, and effectively ending the third attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If passed, the bill would have destabilized the insurance market, gutted Medicaid spending, defunded Planned Parenthood, stripped essential health benefits and undermined care for people with pre-existing conditions, and overall increased the cost of insurance.
National LGBTQ Task Force Launches Transgender Mental Health Survey
WASHINGTON-DC - July 20, 2017 : The National LGBTQ Task Force has partnered with Trans Lifeline to launch the nation's first transgender mental health survey. The first-of-its-kind research is intended to provide a deep insight into the mental healthcare experiences of transgender people in order to improve advocacy efforts. All people over the age of 18 living in the United States that identify as transgender are encouraged to take the survey. The survey is conducted exclusively online and can be filled out here: www.transmentalhealthsurvey.org.
July, 2017
National LGBTQ Task Force Advocacy Delivers HHS Restoration of Sexual Orientation Question to Survey of Older Adults
WASHINGTON, DC-The National LGBTQ Task Force ("the Task Force") is celebrating the restoration by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of a sexual orientation question to the survey of older adults. The Task Force will redouble its effort for the addition of a gender identity question to the national survey.
Pulse Shooting Day Of Remembrance Brings Together LGBTQ, Muslim, And Latinx Communities
Washington, D.C.-The undersigned 59 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ), American Muslim, and Latinx organizations released the following statement in advance of the first day of remembrance of the June 12, 2016 massacre at the LGBTQ nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida. The statement was convened by national civil rights organizations including Muslim Advocates, the National LGBTQ Task Force, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) "One year ago, in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, we came together in grief, in unity, and in solidarity with the Orlando community and millions of people everywhere, to condemn this act of hate violence and affirm that love conquers hate. That senseless act struck at the heart of the LGBTQ and Latinx communities, families, and close friends, and at the core of one of our nation's greatest strengths: our diversity. The ensuing backlash against the American Muslim community led to hate speech and violence, shootings, and mosque vandalism that claimed even more victims.
Senate's Obamacare Repeal Bill Condemned by LGBTQ Advocates
WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 22, 2017 -Today, the United States (U.S.) Senate made public the so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628). If passed, the bill would take away health insurance from millions of people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. While the full extent of its harm is not yet known because the bill has not yet been scored by the Congressional Budget Office, it is clear that the Senate is proposing to make health insurance less affordable and charge those with pre-existing conditions more money for coverage.
November, 2014
Task Force welcomes Vatican discussion on LGBTQ people
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 13, 2014- Today the Vatican issued a discussion paper called "Relatio" where it proposes a new position on LGBTQ people.
October, 2014
U.S. Supreme Court Action Ushers In Marriage Equality to 30 States
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 6, 2014 -- Today the United States Supreme Court denied review of seven federal appeals court decisions striking down marriage bans in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Court's action clears the way for same-sex couples to marry in those states and any other state with similar bans in those circuits, bringing the total number of states with marriage equality to thirty.
National LGBTQ Task Force
News from the National LGBTQ Task Force. The National LGBTQ Task Force advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people. We're building a future where everyone is free to be themselves in every aspect of their lives. Today, despite all the progress we’ve made to end discrimination, millions of LGBTQ people face barriers in every aspect of their lives: in housing, employment, healthcare, retirement, and basic human rights. These barriers must go. That’s why the Task Force is training and mobilizing millions of activists across our nation to deliver a world where you can be you.
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