Welcome!
Equality Caucus was formed, and approved, in Fall 2023 following an initial gathering for conversation at Braver Angels National Convention earlier that year in Gettysburg PA. A small group of Braver Angels members from different regions of the US and from Europe drafted the statement you see here in this simple, declarative format: The Mission, Who we Are, The Challenge, The Opportunity. We welcome LGBTQ individuals, allies, family members, friends, colleagues and others who want to work with us. Thank you.
The Mission
As the Equality Caucus, we believe LGBTQ individuals are guaranteed our inalienable rights in the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which are among our shared American values. To support the movement-making work of Braver Angels to build bridges, we aim to engage in dialogue to undermine harmful stereotypes, focus on solutions, and respect our shared humanity.
Who We Are
We are members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) communities, across generations and regions of the United States, that hold diverse views about issues affecting our communities.
The Challenge
Within our LGBTQ communities, we are witnessing polarization pitting members of the community against each other, mischaracterizing diverse views, and being both instigators and victims of cancel culture.
Within American society, some individuals in the LBGTQ communities experience harmful stereotyping, threats to their physical and psychological safety, and challenges to their rights and protections.
The Opportunity
Within our LGBTQ communities and the greater Braver Angels community, the BA Equality Caucus is a space to share concerns and hope for equality, learn to listen to each other, understand viewpoint diversity, and strive to establish common ground.
Click to Join Our Caucus
Google Form to Join Equality Caucus mailing list
Allies (friends, family members, colleagues, those concerned for themes identified in the charter, and other allies) are welcome to join. Thank you.
If you have questions please communicate directly with the Equality Caucus leadership team at email equality-caucus-info@braverangels.org
Leadership team (in alphabetical order by last name):
Dr. Melissa Bird, Oregon, Blue Co-chair
Zander Keig, MS, MSW, LCSW, Oregon, Red Co-chair
Margaret Riley, Vermont, Alternate Red Co-chair
Alysa Steenport, Wisconsin, Alternate Blue Co-chair
WE HAVE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS THROUGH MOST OF THE YEAR.
COMING UP IN EARLY 2026:
- Monthly online meetings, on the second Monday of each month
- From 5:00-6:00 pm PT Pacific Time ( so 8:00-9:00 pm Eastern Time, etc )
- Using Zoom online meeting
Co-chairs used survey responses from members to set day & time for the monthly meetings through early 2026. In 2025 the meetings had been fourth Thursdays. We have heard from various members who have professional or family conflicts at the time of day for early 2026 meetings and from European members many time zones away. Thank you for your suggestions and continuing interest. We appreciate all members but don’t currently have capacity to meet everyone’s meeting preference. Adding other opportunities for online meeting may be possible in the future remembering that Braver Angels meetings are required to have co-chairs. If you are part of a Braver Angels local alliance (that has its own Co-chairs) or Braver Network organization, or any other group let us know if you would like to organize a program or discussion apart from the regular online meetings. Thank you.
Join Zoom Meeting
Our regular 60 minute monthly meetings have been friendly and engaging. Our September topic – observing National Coming Out Day – was sharing ‘coming out’ stories. Our August topic was discussion of how recent changes in Medicaid may impact LGBT Americans. Our July Topic was a discussion of the recent Skrmetti decision in the US Supreme Court.
Co-chairs set the topic for each regular monthly meeting. Would you like to suggest a topic and/or to help organize discussion with Co-chairs? Would your local Braver Angels alliance, or other group – within Braver Angels, in the Braver Network ( link to Braver Network ) or other organization – propose a collaborative program with the Equality Caucus? We would be glad to hear from you. Please Contact Co-Chairs at equality-caucus-info@braverangels.or
Preparation for our March monthly online meeting
Some past projects of the Equality Caucus
Braver Lens, Photovoice with Equality Caucus, Winter-Spring 2024. As our inaugural project were were delighted to receive funds and support from Interfaith Photovoice partnering with Braver Angels. One among several teams, Equality Caucus members from across the continent met February through May to walk through part of our Mission Statement by taking photos, sharing them, and discussing them under themes. A collection of our work was curated professionally and exhibited at 2024 Braver Angels National Convention. See more here Equality Caucus Photovoice project curated through Braver Lens for 2024 National Convention
Equality Caucus worked collaboratively with Braver Angels Common Ground Workshop team to develop and offer a 4 hour workshop on ‘Better Care for Gender Questioning Youth’ in November 2024: Common Ground workshop on Better Care for Gender Questioning Youth November 2024 There was remarkable participation from a spectrum of opinion on the topic. Expert facilitators guided participation through the workshop model toward our concluding development of ‘common ground’ agreement