Equality Connecticut’s news and events blog. Read up on current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community or enjoy articles of queer joy and power.

  • Statement on Proposed CMS Rules
    Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will pursue policies to cut off funding and access to medically necessary care for transgender youth. The proposed regulations would prevent states from using federal Medicaid funds to pay for gender-affirming care for people under 18 and would also ban the use of federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for this care for individuals under 19. Although the restriction applies only to federal dollars, states would still have the option to cover these services using state funds that are separate from federally matched Medicaid or CHIP programs. The…
  • Statement on directed investigation into Cromwell Public Schools
    The Out Accountability Project and Equality Connecticut are deeply concerned about the recent directed investigation initiated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights targeting Cromwell Public Schools’ inclusion of LGBTQ+ students. This investigation, which questions the district’s efforts to create an inclusive learning environment, comes at a time when LGBTQ+—and especially transgender—students are already facing unprecedented levels of hostility nationwide. The importance of this moment cannot be overstated. Across the country, a wave of politically motivated misinformation is fueling efforts to roll back basic rights and dignity for LGBTQ+ youth. In this climate, school districts have a…
  • Equality Connecticut 2025 Legislative Session Policy Priorities 
    The Network is studying initiatives including increasing grantmaking capacity; conducting a needs assessment; adding a public schools grant program to fund professional development related to guidance from the State Department of Education and U.S. Department of Education; expanding access to gender-affirming care; adding staff capacity to support new programs; and creating an LGBTQIA+ policy analyst position. Equality Connecticut endorses and supports the strategic priorities contained within the Network plan and budget. An Act Concerning The Standards of Care for Members of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Long-term Care Facilities (HB6913) codifies the provisions of federal and state nondiscrimination laws and regulations,…
  • Equality Connecticut Statement on the Death of Governor Jodi Rell
    In an age of increased polarization and partisanship, LGBTQ+ people can remember Governor Rell as a person who respected decency, pragmatism, and the rule of law above partisan politics.  The freedom to marry was hard-won in Connecticut. In 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples had a constitutional right to marry the person they loved. The legislature quickly passed a bill in 2009 that codified that decision into law. Although she was not a supporter, Governor Rell promptly signed the bill, one of the first governors to do so. We certainly did not agree on everything and were disappointed in…
  • We See You; We Got This. Our response to the 2024 Election.
    The election is finally over.  Today, I know that many of us, and the people and communities we care about, are feeling many emotions — fear, anger, confusion, and sorrow to name a few. That’s all justified because we lived through it once. This time, we know what to expect and we are prepared to protect and defend our community and values. Intersectionality is at the center of Equality Connecticut’s values. It is central to how we approach our work and how we plan to approach the next four years. Solidarity with and among communities at risk will hold us…