"Our greatest hope for equality rests with the work that activists do every day in every state. These grants are only a small reflection of our confidence that an investment in Equality Begins at Home actions now will transform our nation forever."

--- Kerry Lobel, NGLTF Executive Director

These funds are to be used for their efforts in planning and implementing Equality Begins at Home events. Equality Begins at Home is a series of actions in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) equality that will be held in every state and territory during the week of March 21-27, 1999.

The NGLTF grants mark the first time that a national organization has made funds available to statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) political organizations in every state.

The Federation facilitates cooperation and communication among organizations whose primary mission is to seek legislative change that benefits GLBT persons.

The Federation is also intended to be a clearinghouse for exchanging information and ideas among these state groups. In addition, the Federation works to assist existing and new groups in addressing their organizational development needs and to provide a structure for better working relationships between statewide and national GLBT organizations.

NGLTF serves as the Federation¹s coordinator to support the work and resources of the Federation. The Equality Begins at Home Steering Committee is comprised of six Federation members.

In July, the Task Force hired Paula Ettelbrick, a highly respected activist and legislative attorney, as national coordinator for Equality Begins at Home.

"We commend NGLTF for helping build the infrastructure that every state needs to work for GLBT equality," said Dianne Hardy-Garcia, co-chair of the Federation and executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas. "These grants come at a key time in the history of our movement."

"These funds help ensure that every state and territory will have an Equality Begins at Home action," commented Roger Leishman, of the Gay and Lesbian Rights Project of the Illinois ACLU and co-chair of the Federation. "It is impossible to overstate how critical next year will be in state efforts for equality."

Only member organizations of the Federation will be considered for a grant in this cycle. NGLTF will work to build statewide organizations or identify Equality Begins at Home planners in states and territories that are not currently members of the Federation to ensure full participation in Equality Begins at Home actions around the country. Each state or territory will receive one award.