About Us

Equality Advocates' mission is to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Pennsylvania through direct legal services, education and policy reform.

Founded in 1996, Equality Advocates is the only organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offering direct legal services for the LGBT community. Equality Advocates is home to the country's only law student clinic dedicated to LGBT issues. The clinic, founded in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania Law School's Public Service Program, is also an official clinical program of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and includes students from law schools throughout the country,

In addition to our legal services, Equality Advocates speaks to thousands of individuals yearly through panels, forums and workshops to educate the LGBT community, our allies and the larger community about issus of importance to LGBT people.

We also participate in grassroots and organizational coalitions to create systemic change and policy reform for the LGBT community. Our alliances include the Equality Federation, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects (NCAVP), the Value All Families Coalition, and the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition (SPARC), among others.

Find out how we can help you by providing you with legal services. Look through our list of publications to educate yourself about the legal options available to LGBT peoplein Pennsylvania. Check our news list or events calendar to see if Equality Advocates is participating in an event near you. Get involved through our Action Center.

Meet our staff and board and our volunteers and see how foundations have helped us grow.