How We Began:

In 1979 a group of gay fathers got together and formed the group that would eventually become Family Equality Council. Knowing that there were other gay dads out there somewhere, they were committed to finding one another and forming a network of support.

How We Expanded:

Originally called the Gay Fathers Coalition, in 1986 this fathers’ group expanded to include lesbian moms, prompting a name change to the Gay and Lesbian Parents Coalition International (GLPCI), a volunteer grassroots chapter-based organization whose primary purpose was to connect with and support local gay and lesbian parenting groups, while advancing the cause of the lesbian and gay parenting community.

Children of LGBTQ parents have unique needs and learn, grow and find support with one another. In 1990, a group of youth convened and initiated a new program of GLPCI, called Just For Us. By the mid 1990’s that group had established a steering committee and separate program status, and shortly thereafter the group changed its name to Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE). In 1999, the GLPCI Board of Directors endorsed the wishes of COLAGE to become an independent organization, operating under its own tax-exempt status. COLAGE became an independent organization on January 1, 1999.

In 1998, recognizing our growing movement and the need to lead by being inclusive examples, GLPCI changed its name to the Family Pride Coalition in order to include bisexual and transgender parents. In 2007, in order to better capture the full breadth and scope of our work and our collective vision of a world that treats all loving families equally, we thought it was important to change our name to Family Equality Council. Our new name and expanded vision reinforce our commitment to working across communities and issues and to joining forces with other progressive advocacy groups to create meaningful change for all loving families.

Family Equality Council Today:

Family Equality Council is proud to be the national non-profit organization dedicated to securing family equality. We recognize and believe that the laws, provisions and ordinances that hurt LGBTQ-headed families also hurt so many others—single parents, blended families, families of color, etc. To that end, Family Equality Council is standing strong to defeat anti-family legislation and promote pro-family legislation.

In the past few years Family Equality Council has enjoyed unprecedented growth, including attaining a creative, robust and committed board of directors now numbering 18 strong.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, Family Equality Council continues to work with other progressive national and state-based organizations, local parents groups and families, friends and allies to make change, share information and build community. We are absolutely committed to achieving family equality in our lifetime!


Our Mission

Family Equality Council works to ensure equality for LGBT families by building community, changing hearts and minds, and advancing social justice for all families.

Our Vision

We envision a future where all families, regardless of creation or composition, will be able to live in communities that recognize, respect, protect, and celebrate them.  We envision a country that celebrates a diversity of family constellations and respects individuals for supporting one another and sustaining loving families.

Our vision will be realized when:

  • Children are free from harassment, bullying and discrimination based on their family constellation.
  • No laws exist or are proposed that marginalize, restrict or prevent LGBT parents and families from building a strong, loving family that is treated as equal to all other families.
  • Schools, local and faith-based communities, government agencies, health care institutions and other social systems work collaboratively to have policies and procedures that support LGBT families and help them thrive.
  • The media presents our message of love, commitment and joy and showcases the contributions our families make to our country.
  • The Family Equality Council is a leading national organization serving as the voice of information and inspiration for all families.

Our Strategy—We will:

  • Leverage the power of our families—telling our stories and driving change in communities, states and across the nation.
  • Focus public and media attention on the love, strength and contributions of our families.
  • Provide support, skills and community needed for LGBT-headed families at all stages of life.
  • Promote a proactive policy agenda that sets the standard of support for LGBT-headed families in schools, faith institutions, health care and family creation and protection.
  • Defeat or change laws at the local, state and federal level that compromise family equality for all.
  • Educate members of government, schools, faith-based communities, health care institutions and other social systems about how they can promote family equality for all.
  • Partner with other LGBT and broader social justice organizations to provide the greatest positive impact and to maximize resources.
  • Build and sustain a strong, effective Family Equality Council to leverage greater resources to achieve this mission and vision.



The Family Equality Council’s work consists of strategically linked initiatives which are broad in scope, but simple in vision—love, justice, family, equality. For the first time, LGBTQ-headed families have become part of the national consciousness, and thus the national conversation being had about equality in our country. We are very proud of our legislative victories, campaigns and special projects.


Take a few moments to learn more about the Family Equality Council, our work and our team. Click the links below to get started. And, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us!