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DEFENSE
THE MISSION
Defense is the last line of protection for the LGBTQ+ individuals and can often be the most critical. As discrimination against the queer community continues in areas such as employment, name changes, legal filings, fair housing, and more, there needs to be an equal push to fight back and bring equality to the table. We will be that last line of defense.
GRANTS
With an organization of this size and scope, the funding is fundamental to our success. We work to apply for a variety of grants open to eligible non-profits such as ours that focus on social support, educational opportunities, business development, and anti-discrimination efforts that benefit our local community.
Grants Awarded To Equality Loudoun
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2020 - The Southern Poverty Law Center Frontline Grant ($1,500)
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2021 - The Lainoff Family Foundation Grant ($10,000)
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2022 - Loudoun Chamber Foundation Grant ($4,000)
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2022 - The Lainoff Family Foundation Grant ($5,000)
HOUSING
Your home is your castle. Whether it's finding the perfect home in an accepting area or finding a rental process free of discriminatory practices, we use a combination of Fair Housing practices, LGBTQ+ best practices, and general knowledge to inform and educate local public officials and housing markets specialists on how to protect you.
METRO. WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
Equality Loudoun began participating as representatives of the LGBTQ+ community in 2022 for a regional initiative by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government to address Fair Housing Act standards. One way that COG is helping local jurisdictions meet fair housing requirements is through collaborating on a Regional Housing Equity Plan (also known as the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice or AI). Learn more...
Federal and state fair housing laws protects people from discrimination when trying to rent an apartment, buy a house, obtain a mortgage, or purchase homeowner's insurance. Fair housing requirements apply to all housing providers: property managers, owners, landlords, real estate agents, banks, savings institutions, credit unions, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, and appraisers. Learn more...
Now more than ever, our community has to wade through a bevy of legal challenges from name and gender changes to navigating marriage laws while safeguarding against discriminatory practices. We work with a network of legal experts on helping you understand your legal rights, best practices for various legal services, and connecting individuals to pro bono providers.
LEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA (LSNV)
LSNV is the largest legal aid organization in Virginia, helping thousands of clients each year in civil legal matters. We partner closely with other legal aid organizations, state and local bar associations, as well as the courts to serve the region’s low-income and neediest populations. LSNV provides services in Consumer Law, Elder Law, Family Law, Human Trafficking, Housing Law, Public Benefits, Child Advocacy & Education Law, Veterans Law Project, Support for Re-Entry , and Return to Communities. Staff and volunteers provide legal advice, brief services, and representation in administrative hearings and in court. They also deliver community legal education and partner with other community agencies, task forces, and coordinated response teams to find innovative solutions to broader problems.
Despite recent progress toward acceptance across America, the LGBTQ community in the Deep South continues to face significant barriers to equality, as few states offer protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In each of the Southern states, for example, employers may fire or refuse to hire a person because of their sexual orientation – and no Southern state prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in public accommodations or housing. In addition, LGBTQ youth often encounter harassment and bullying in school, and the community is frequently victimized by violent hate crime. We’re working in the courts to ensure that LGBTQ people achieve full equality under the law. Our work has a national reach but is focused primarily on the Southeast, where relatively few organizations advocate for the LGBTQ community. Learn more...
LEGAL
LEGISLATION
Both the progression and regression of our legal rights start and stop in the legislative arena. While Equality Loudoun does not affiliate or align itself with a political party, we do work to understand and educate those elected officials working to impact the LGBTQ+ community. We bring awareness to legislative concerns, changes to existing rights and laws, and advocate for improvements.
EQUALITY VIRGINIA LEGISLATIVE TRACKER
Every year, Equality Virginia monitors LGBTQ-related legislation introduced to the Virginia General Assembly and advocates on behalf of Virginia’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer community. We work to introduce and support pro-equality legislation and to oppose bills that move us backward. Equality Virginia amplifies the voices of the LGBTQ community by engaging thousands of Virginians in grassroots advocacy and connecting constituents with their legislators. Learn more...
ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAUGE H.E.A.T. MAP™
The H.E.A.T. Map™(Hate, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism) is the first-of-its-kind interactive and customizable map detailing specific incidents of hate, extremism, antisemitism and terrorism by state and nationwide. This interactive map lets you read details on specific incidents, better understand tactics extremists use, compare activity by type and/or state and access and download raw data. Learn more...
FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS - LEGISLATIVE TRACKER
During the 2022 legislative session dozens of states will consider LGBTQ legislation. Some bills will seek to advance the comprehensive nondiscrimination laws that LGBTQ people so sorely need, while others will almost certainly attempt to single out and target LGBTQ people for unfair and unequal treatment. Freedom for All Americans is tracking each piece of LGBTQ legislation in our Legislative Tracker, in partnership with the Equality Federation. This resource can help you find all 2022 legislation related to LGBTQ discrimination, including school policy bills, youth medical care bans, and youth sports bans. Learn more...
