Equality Connecticut is dedicated to advancing LGBTQIA+ rights and opportunities through impactful state policy and advocacy. By working closely with lawmakers, community leaders, and grassroots organizers, EqCT pushes for inclusive legislation that protects and uplifts LGBTQ+ folks across Connecticut. From fighting for nondiscrimination protections and affirming healthcare access to ensuring the safety and well-being of trans youth in schools, Equality Connecticut is committed to making Connecticut a place where everyone can thrive. Through strategic policy initiatives and community-driven action, we are shaping a future of true equality and justice for all.
Would amend passages in the Connecticut State Constitution to updated gender-neutral language.
Would require that leach state agency that provides printed or electronic forms or applications to be completed by members of the public shall complete an evaluation that includes, but need not be limited to, the following information: (1) Which changes or revisions are necessary to update all such forms and applications used by the public that require the individual who is completing such form or application to indicate a sex or gender to include a nonbinary gender option that an individual may select, and (2) what resources are necessary to make such changes or revisions. A summary of the findings of such evaluation shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management no later than January 1, 2027.
To make a technical change to a statute concerning government administration and to provide protections to health care providers who provide reproductive and gender-affirming health care services to patients,
regardless of whether the patients are physically located in this state at the time the services are provided.
HB7219 AN ACT PROTECTING 504 PLAN ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN CONNECTICUT
Currently, there is a lawsuit working its way through the federal court system which asserts that Section 504 is unconstitutional. It is unclear if the US Attorney General will defend Section 504. If these important civil rights protections disappear, tens of thousands of students will lose access to accommodations that ensure their success in school and ultimately their future.
Furthermore, 504 complaints are investigated by the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil RIghts (OCR). With the recent closing of seven of the 12 OCR offices, it is unlikely that a student complaint would be investigated in time to impact their education, if at all. HB7219 redirects this complaint process to the State Department of Education.
Queer youth often struggle in school for a variety of reasons. Whether it is harassment, fear of being outed, hostile school environments, and lack of support, to name a few, many benefit from accommodations found in a 504 plan.
Parents and guardians have fewer rights and safeguards during the 504 process. For example, they do not need to be present at 504 meetings and provide input into accommodations. For some students who are not out at home, this offers them a confidential opportunity to speak with educators.
SB 1271 AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES
The bill creates policies for the development and review of library materials and programs in both school and public libraries in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2025. Here’s a summary of key sections:
School Libraries (Sec. 10-221z):
Public Libraries (Sec. 11-24b):
In essence, the bill sets new guidelines to ensure that both school and public libraries have clear, standardized policies for handling library materials, displays, and programs, with a focus on inclusivity, free expression, and a structured process for reviewing and reconsidering challenged materials.
SB1234 AN ACT MAKING CERTAIN TERMS IN ELECTRONIC BOOK AND DIGITAL AUDIOBOOK LICENSE AGREEMENTS OR CONTRACTS UNENFORCEABLE
Libraries ensure equal access to books for all but given the restrictive terms of ebook contracts and high costs, libraries are limited in what they can provide to their community. With digital formats, individuals can access critical resources such as books about LGBTQ+ history, rights, mental health, and coming out without having to physically visit a store or library, helping those who might feel isolated or unsafe in certain areas, but only if libraries can afford it. This bill will make it easier for libraries to purchase a wide variety of materials ensuring access to LGBTQ+-focused materials widely available and accessible to everyone.
SJ35 RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT CONCERNING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX UNDER THE EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE
The proposed Amendment takes half a century of progress in state law and enshrines it into our Constitution. This accomplishes the following goals:
Recognizes that it can be difficult to understand what it is like to have a transgender child. Parents of transgender children, like most parents, want what is best for their child, and this resolution ensures that our children can receive the healthcare they need.
The proposed Amendment takes half a century of progress in state law and enshrines it into our Constitution. This accomplishes the following goals:
HB6913 AN ACT CONCERNING LGBTQ+ DISCRIMINATION IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
This bill aims to prohibit long-term care facilities or long-term care facility staff from discriminating against any long-term care facility resident on the basis of such resident’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or human immunodeficiency virus status.
SB1380 AN ACT PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION BY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE STATE
This bill aims to prohibit health care providers from discriminating against persons in the provision of health care services in the state. This bill lacks the full protection provided by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which is under threat by the federal administration, and amendments to expand it have been suggested by providers and civil rights attorneys.
HB7022 AN ACT PROMOTING EQUITY IN MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR FERTILITY HEALTH CARE
This bill aims to expand Medicaid coverage for fertility health care and will address a critical need by eliminating barriers to fertility care coverage and will align fertility health care insurance coverage with the medical standard of fertility care, which includes LGBTQ+ and single people.
HB7213 AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE
There are no explicit statutory protections for minors to be able to consent to contraceptive care nor pregnancy-related care despite minors being able to confidentially consent to many types of health care. Connecticut has been a leader in recognizing young people’s ability to make informed decisions about their health, and H.B. 7213 would explicitly enshrine young people’s ability to consent to, and access contraceptive care and pregnancy-related care.
We already know that LGBTQ+ youth face issues with access to healthcare, especially if they are not supported at home. This bill makes it possible for queer youth to have private conversations with healthcare providers, where they can get accurate medical information without fear of being outed.
When young people are assured of their confidentiality, they are more likely to access and obtain the health care they need, disclose sensitive information to their providers, and seek out future health services. No law can force healthy family conversations.
HB6889 AN ACT CONCERNING EVICTIONS FOR CAUSE
This bill requires landlords to have grounds for filing an eviction or refusing to renew a lease, like a tenant’s failure to pay rent or abide by the lease.
Equality Connecticut, as a member of the Just Cause Coalition, supports An Act Expanding the Protection of Just Cause Eviction to All Tenants (H.B. 6348). The bill seeks to end no-fault evictions for all Connecticut residents in buildings with four or more units. Connecticut law currently prohibits no-fault evictions only for renters living in complexes with five or more units who are aged 62+ and/or have a disability. Landlords can evict renters not covered by this law by refusing to renew a lease or ending a month-to-month contract, even if the tenant pays rent on time and does everything else “right”.
Just Cause would prevent discrimination against LGBTQIA+ tenants. No-fault eviction is one of the last vestiges of potential legal discrimination against our community in the state. Because landlords do not have to provide justification for a no-fault eviction, it is very difficult for renters to prove discrimination.
HB7112 AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
HB 7112 has several components aimed at addressing the homelessness and affordable housing crises in Connecticut. Section 6 of HB 7112 would require the commissioners of Connecticut’s Departments of Housing, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Children and Families to collect and report data annually on LGBTQ+ young people (aged 18-24) engaged with their services.
Without data on the LGBTQ+ young people using these services, CT will fall short in meeting its obligations to young people in this state. On the one hand, Connecticut has strong obligations (through its statutes and applications of our constitution to ensure the health and rights of LGBTQ+ people) but Connecticut is also under-prepared without this data to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness or transitioning out of state care.
HB7212 AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRUST ACT
Connecticut’s immigrant communities continue to face fear and instability due to recent ICE arrests targeting undocumented individuals. These actions are tearing families apart and discouraging people from attending school, seeking healthcare, or engaging in their communities.
The TRUST Act, originally passed in 2013, is one of Connecticut’s strongest tools to protect immigrant families. However, loopholes have allowed violations to go unaddressed. In 2025, we must strengthen the law to ensure that local resources are not used to separate families.
Allows any person who received an other than honorable discharge and who believes such discharge characterization was based on such person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to apply to have such person’s discharge characterization recorded upon a state veterans registry as “honorable”. There is an existing registry in CT for veterans discharged under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy; this bill expands this registry to include transgender soldiers being forced out of the military under federal actions issued this year.
There are 44 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced this session. They are not likely to go anywhere, but we are tracking them.
The EqCT Center for Policy and Mobilization works alongside advocates across movements to identify the needs of LGBTQIA+ people and develop policy solutions. We are a think-tank working to create original solutions to the needs of LGBTQIA+ people a grassroots movement working to leverage the collective strength of the queer community. We are a coalition of organizations working together to achieve change and advocate for queer people. We are also part of a bigger movement.