The LGBTQI+ rights movement is operating in a moment of heightened pressure and complexity. Hard-won policy gains are being challenged and revoked, organizations are navigating sustained political and legal attacks, and the pace of work has dramatically accelerated. The long-term success of an LGBTQI+-inclusive public policy agenda depends not only on being able to meet this moment of challenge, but to deepen investment in the sustainability and longevity of this movement.
The Equality Caucus Institute (ECI) believes that by resourcing and developing new generations of public policy professionals, and by creating new spaces for learning and cross-sector engagement, we will ensure the long-term success of the movement for LGBTQI+ equality.
Mission
To create, empower, and mobilize the next generation of LGBTQI+ leaders with the skills, networks, and opportunities they need to advance research, influence policy, and build a more just and equitable future.
A Message from Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Representative Mark Takano:
The Congressional Equality Caucus fights every day to advance policies that improve the lives of LGBTQI+ people. But lasting change requires more than the work of Congress alone. That's why we created the Equality Caucus Institute—to strengthen the movement through research, collaboration, and by preparing the next generation of changemakers.
When I first entered politics, many viewed being openly gay as a political liability. Today, I know it has been one of my greatest strengths, shaping how I serve, whom I fight for, and what I know is possible.
Our progress is real, but it is never guaranteed. It depends on staying vigilant and investing in the people who will carry this work forward.
Thank you for standing with us and helping build a stronger, more resilient future.
A Message from ECI Board Chair Catherine Pino, Co-CEO and Founder – D&P Creative Strategies:
I joined the Board of the Equality Caucus Institute because I believe meaningful policy change requires strong leaders, trusted relationships, and organizations willing to invest in the future. ECI is uniquely positioned to bring together people from government, advocacy, philanthropy, academia, and the private sector to strengthen the LGBTQI+ policy ecosystem. We are building an organization that serves people at every stage of leadership—from those just discovering a passion for public policy to experienced professionals looking to deepen their impact and mentor others.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside extraordinary leaders who understood that lasting progress is never the work of one person or one moment—it is built by investing in people, cultivating relationships, and creating institutions that endure. That belief is what drew me to ECI. I know firsthand how transformative mentorship, opportunity, and a seat at the table can be, and I want to help ensure that the next generation of LGBTQI+ leaders has even greater access to those experiences. Our movement's future depends not only on responding to today's challenges, but on preparing tomorrow's leaders with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to shape public policy for decades to come.
Donate
By becoming an Equality Caucus Institute donor, you’ll be lifting up the next generation of LGBTQI+ leaders, supporting the growing network of ECI and pro-equality stakeholders, and building the knowledge base that helps protect our rights and strengthen our communities.
Programs
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ECI's Leadership Institute
- Offer paid Fellowships on the Hill, with corporate, nonprofit, and other policy advocacy organizations
- Build a team of expert staff to support ECI’s emerging leaders
- Create a robust network of professionals, advocates, and Academy graduates
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Center for Federal Policy & Research
- Support development of policy across a variety of issue areas to advance a pro-equality agenda at the federal level
- Convene conversations and conferences with stakeholders to maintain collective momentum
-Shape the narrative around the LGBTQI+ community and align messaging efforts
- Advise and support program alumni who move into policy jobs
Meet ECI’s Acting Executive Director Laura E. Durso, Ph.D.:
Development of ECI’s programming and operations is being led by Dr. Laura E. Durso, whose 15-year career in LGBTQI+ public policy has spanned multiple sectors and roles, focused on the advancement of LGBTQ health and rights. Previously, Dr. Durso served as the Chief of Staff at the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Biden-Harris Administration and was the founding Executive Director and Chief Learning Officer of the Institute for Health Research & Policy at Whitman-Walker. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Harvard College and master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
