FAMILY EQUALITY

IN 2024, FAMILY EQUALITY ADVOCATED FOR EQUALITY AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL; CONNECTED LGBTQ+ PEOPLE TO ONE ANOTHER, TO VITAL RESOURCES, AND TO THE SUPPORT THAT EVERY FAMILY DESERVES; AND EDUCATED THE PUBLIC TO BUILD MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. ADVOCATING FOR EQUALITY IN 2024, FAMILY EQUALITY MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN PROMOTING EQUALITY FOR FAMILIES NATIONWIDE. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE GATHERED CRUCIAL DATA ON FAMILIES ACROSS THE RACIAL AND GEOGRAPHIC SPECTRUM THROUGH OUR FAMILY EQUITY JUSTICE SURVEY, WORKED SUCCESSFULLY TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME IN THE CLASSROOM, AND ADVOCATED FOR BEST PRACTICES IN CHILD WELFARE. AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE WORKED TO MODERNIZE LAWS TO PROTECT ALL FAMILIES IN MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, VERMONT, AND NEW YORK. MORE SPECIFICALLY, WE-SUPPORTED 25 STATES IN EFFORTS TO BUILD MORE EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES -EMPOWERED FAMILIES THROUGH 13 ACTION ALERTS THAT INFORMED THEM OF CURRENT EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THEIR LAWMAKERS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD -PASSED 9 PRIORITY BILLS THAT WOULD ADVANCE EQUALITY AND DEFEATED 8 BILLS THAT WOULD'VE HARMED FAMILIES-SUBMITTED ORAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR 5 STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS -PUBLISHED 5 RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AS THEY NAVIGATE FOSTER CARE, TITLE IX PROTECTIONS, PARENTAGE, AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS-CO-AUTHORED 1 AMICUS BRIEF FOR GLOVER V JUNIOR CONNECTING FAMILIESFAMILY EQUALITY ALSO SERVED MORE FAMILIES THAN EVER BEFORE THROUGH IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING THAT RESPONDED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. BUILDING ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S MOMENTUM, WE INCREASED THE GEOGRAPHIC REACH OF OUR IN-PERSON EVENTS, IN TOTAL WELCOMING THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES TO-FAMILY WEEKEND IN THE MIDWEST IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN-FAMILY WEEKEND IN THE SOUTH IN ATLANTA, GA-FAMILY WEEK IN PROVINCETOWN, MA-LGBTQ+ FAMILIES ARE INCREDI-BOWL IN NEW YORK CITY-AND REGIONAL GATHERINGS IN WISCONSIN; WASHINGTON, D.C.; TEXAS; ILLINOIS; AND CALIFORNIA WE ALSO OFFERED VIRTUAL SUPPORT THROUGH-EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS FOR PARENTS-TO-BE, ATTRACTING OVER 1,000 REGISTRANTS AND NEARLY 300 LIVE ATTENDEES -PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS AND PARENTS-TO-BE, INCLUDING TWO SPECIALIZED GROUPS FOR PARENTS OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN EDUCATING THE PUBLICTHROUGH STORYTELLING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND COMMUNICATIONS, FAMILY EQUALITY BROUGHT VISIBILITY AND AWARENESS TO THE STORIES OF LGBTQ+ FAMILIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WITH THE GOAL OF STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF OUR UNIQUE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES. THIS WORK INCLUDED-LAUNCHING A NETWORK OF EXPERTS WHO CAN SPEAK ON TOPICS RELATED TO FERTILITY, ADOPTION, LEGAL PROTECTIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES AFFECTING FAMILIES -SECURING MEDIA PLACEMENTS IN OUTLETS SUCH AS USA TODAY, PEOPLE MAGAZINE, AND YAHOO!NEWS IN RESPONSE TO MAJOR INITIATIVES AND AS A RESULT OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY MEDIA OUTLETS RESULTING IN 1.42K MENTIONS AND 5B IN REACH-CREATING A MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER FOR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS WITH UPDATES, EVENTS, FAMILY STORIES, AND RESOURCES -LEVERAGING SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE FAMILY STORIES AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION, GARNERING 2M+ IMPRESSIONS -LAUNCHING AN ONLINE STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE FOR PARENTS CONSIDERING FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION-SHARING FAMILY STORIES THROUGH MULTIMEDIA CONTENT, SUCH AS OUR MOVING HOPE STARTS HERE VIDEO AND A TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO 30 YEARS OF FAMILY WEEK FEATURING MANY LONG-TIME ATTENDEES INCLUDING THREE GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY WHO HAS ATTENDED SINCE THE 1990S IN 2024, THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR WORK, WE ADVOCATED FOR EQUALITY FOR ALL, CREATED MEANINGFUL EVENTS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND SHARED THE STORIES OF FAMILIES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.