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Today, over 200 leaders from the LGBTQ civil rights movement are gathered in Alexandria just across the river from Washington, D.C. for the annual Equality Federation Leadership Conference as President Trump announced his intention, in a series of tweets, to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Standing united against the shameful attack on transgender Americans, Equality Federation and its members, including Equality NC, released the following joint statement:

June 26, 2017, marks the second anniversary of the historic Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that brought marriage equality to ALL 50 states. Since then thousands of loving same-sex couples have been able to make their love official - including many of you! This year, we are honored to share some of their love and stories with you.

Six North Carolinians joined hundreds of transgender activists and allies from nearly 40 states and territories earlier this month in Washington, DC for Trans Lobby Day. Hosted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, the two-day event equipped participants with skills and information to advocate for policies to preserve rights and protections for nearly 1.5 million trans people in our country. Transgender Lobby Day took place on June 8-9 in Washington, DC. More information is available at www.transequality.org/TransLobbyDay. Prior to heading over to the Hill to meet with Congressional staff, the North Carolina and Texas delegations stood together for this photograph in honor of the work transgender people have undertaken in both states to fight similarly discriminatory legislation aimed at setting back the progress of transgender people, particularly trans students.

June 12 will mark one year since the tragic events of the Pulse massacre took place. This year, Equality NC is joining over 160 organizations across the country for a nationwide commemoration of the Pulse massacre and a pledge to uproot hatred and anti-LGBTQ bigotry. Here is how you can join us and honor those who were killed by pledging to #HonorThemWithAction.

Yesterday Equality NC and National Center for Transgender Equality submitted public comment to the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services in response to the Department’s solicitation for input regarding Medicaid reform in our state.

RALEIGH — Today, Equality NC and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to the NBA’s decision to bring back the All-Star Game to Charlotte in 2019. The NBA had previously moved their 2017 All-Star game from Charlotte in response to HB2, the deeply discriminatory law that put LGBTQ North Carolinians in harm's way and cost the state over $600 million. Since then, HB2 has been replaced by another law — HB 142 — that continues the same anti-LGBTQ scheme put forward by the original measure.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Equality NC, North Carolina’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) advocacy organization, responded today to the passing of transgender woman of color, Sherrell Faulkner.

RALEIGH — Today, Equality North Carolina announced Matt Hirschy will serve as interim Executive Director of the organization during the search for a permanent Executive Director. Hirschy has served as a member of Equality North Carolina’s leadership team for nearly 3 years and has played a crucial role in the organization’s electoral, programmatic, and advocacy work. Hirschy will take on the new role at the end of Chris Sgro’s tenure in late May. Sgro announced his departure last week.

RALEIGH — Today, Equality North Carolina announced that Chris Sgro, Executive Director since 2013, will depart the organization at the end of May. Rick McDermott and Jeanne Kutrow, Board Chairs of Equality NC, have announced that a search committee with a national scope and a North Carolina focus is beginning its work. Sgro will join the team of a key strategic partner of Equality North Carolina - the Human Rights Campaign - as the Director of Communications in Washington, DC.

Once again, we are hearing rumors that President Trump is going to sign an Executive Order that could give federal agencies and contractors a license to discriminate. A previous Executive Order was leaked in February that gave us a shocking insight into what we may see come out of the oval office. It is widely anticipated that something will be forthcoming at some point possibly Thursday 5/4 to coincide with National Day of Prayer. Be on the lookout for these things:

Equality NC and HRC condemned the NCAA’s decision to reward North Carolina with championship games despite discrimination against LGBTQ people that remains enshrined in state law with HB 142. Because the NCAA Board of Governors requires all bids to include a completed non-discrimination questionnaire, HRC has also submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to North Carolina public universities for all materials related to their bids for NCAA events.

RALEIGH - Today, Equality NC and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released the following statements in light of the NCAA decision to consider North Carolina for championship games, despite the discrimination against LGBTQ people that remains enshrined in state law.

RALEIGH — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Equality North Carolina, and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), strongly condemned North Carolina’s shameful new legislation that lawmakers and Governor Cooper touted as a “repeal” of their discriminatory HB2 law.

RALEIGH, NC - Today, Equality NC, the state’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights advocacy, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, hailed North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for reaffirming his commitment to fully repeal HB2. The deeply discriminatory HB2 was passed almost one year ago and has since wreaked havoc on the state’s economy and its people. Attempts to repeal during a special session last year were thwarted by Republican leadership, and now time is running out for full repeal: the NCAA is nearing a decision that could move all NCAA championship games and events out of North Carolina until 2022 if HB2 remains in effect.

After nearly a year of unprecedented economic suffering and discrimination, North Carolina’s House and Senate leaders have failed to undo the damage they inflicted on the state and fully repeal HB2.

RALEIGH -- Today, Equality North Carolina and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) strongly condemned a Republican-led proposal which would double down on the most discriminatory provisions of North Carolina’s HB2. After nearly a year of unprecedented economic suffering and discrimination, the state’s House and Senate leaders continue to fail in their responsibility to undo the damage they inflicted on the state and fully repeal HB2.

RALEIGH -- Today, Equality NC and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded to a new proposal announced today by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper that would fully repeal the state’s deeply discriminatory HB2 law and introduce additional unnecessary legislation.

RALEIGH - Today, Equality NC expressed grave concern over the actions of NCGOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse, who this weekend retweeted an article that calls transgender youth mentally ill and sexual perverts.