About Equality New York

Equality New York (EQNY) is a statewide advocacy organization working to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families.

Equality NY Fund is a non-profit statewide organization that organizes and educates LGBTQI people, their allies, and their community and political leaders.

Equality NY PAC is a political action committee dedicated to supporting candidates for public office in New York State who are committed to the civil rights and needs of the LGBTQI community.

EQNY PAC and EQNY Fund serve as a forum in which we turn conversations into action, spur political change, and bring more people together in a diverse, inclusive, and respectful dialogue about our movement.

We invite you to be part of this conversation. To borrow a phrase, we are stronger together.

Our Mission

Equality New York (EQNY) is an advocacy organization that unites and amplifies the social and political voices of the LGBTQI communities throughout New York State. We work to advance equality and justice for LGBTQI New Yorkers and their families. EQNY uses an intersectional lens to ensure equitable outcomes for our community.

Equality New York is founded on the following principles

The LGBTQI communities of New York are diverse in many ways, therefore no single agenda can represent all LGBTQI New Yorkers.
EQNY aims to bring a diverse set of voices to the table, and seeks to implement mechanisms by which those who choose to be involved can inform EQNY’s decisions and priorities.
EQNY will create a truly inclusive movement by not only making space but centering the TGNC/NB community in their work.
We live at intersections of multiple identities and concerns. Racism, class, ableism, and economic issues are central to supporting LGBTQI people.
EQNY is an efficient organization that seeks to support other organizations and efforts throughout the state. Partnerships will provide value and work towards building a powerful voice for LGBTQI people and organizations.
New York is a large state with different lived experiences in various areas of the state. An LGBTQI state organization of must represent all of these areas, being careful not to over represent the New York City region.

Why we need Equality New York


New York prides itself on leading the country in support for LGBTQI people. But each and every right and protection gained has been the result of hard work over prolonged campaigns.

As with all communities, legal and lived equality are not equivalent, and so these “wins” have varying degrees of effects on the daily lives of New Yorkers depending on personal and familial status, geographic location, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and so on. Finally, no movement for civil and social equality and equity has been left unchallenged; many of our opponents strive to turn back the clock.

For all of these reasons, New York’s LGBTQI communities deserve an efficient and effective statewide voice to:

  • Consistently build good relationships with government and hold our elected officials accountable;
  • Provide a watchdog function to ensure our rights continue to expand and stay protected;
  • Enable LGBTQI people to come together to address issues, concerns, and challenges with greater strength;
  • Impact elections to ensure the greatest number of pro-LGBTQI politicians hold office throughout the state.