Government Affairs Intern

Equality Texas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 18,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

Equality Texas Foundation/Equality TexasAction in Austin, TX seeks a Government Affairs Intern to support our advocacy during the 2027 Texas Legislative Session. This 10-hour-per-week role runs Jan 11–May 31, 2027, and applicants must reside in Texas and be able to commute to our Austin office.

The intern will work with the Deputy Director, Public Affairs to assist with legislative materials, tracking, research, and scheduling visits, while performing administrative tasks and maintaining

Qualifications

• Current masters/juris doctorate candidate in a relevant study area.
• At least one legislative session work experience with basic understanding of state government and the legislative process.
• Demonstrated commitment to achieving full legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people in Texas.
• Strategic thinking with data-driven decision making and goal orientation.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong writing, research and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Deputy Director, Public Affairs during the 90th Texas Legislative Session on legislative tasks.
• Develop and disseminate external legislative materials to elected offices and coalition partners.
• Conduct legislative tracking and policy research to support advocacy initiatives.
• Provide support for advocacy training sessions and materials.
• Organize and manage documentation related to legislative and advocacy activities.
• Track and summarize policy developments and legislative updates.
• Coordinate office visits and assist staff/visitors with scheduling and execution.

Skills

Strong writing

Research skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Policy analysis

Public affairs

Education

Masters/JD candidate

Job description

Title:Government Affairs Intern
Organization:Equality Texas Foundation/Equality TexasAction
Reports to:Deputy Director, Public Affairs

Location:Austin, TX
Hours and Compensation:Hours are based on selected candidate’s availability. Applicants should be able to commit to 10 hours a week from January 11 – May 31, 2027 and hold a predetermined schedule to be agreed upon during onboarding. Interns will be paid $16/hr.

Candidates MUST LIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS and be able tocommute to our Austin office.

THE POSITION:

Equality Texas is seeking a dynamic andpro-active intern who is interested in learning the ins and outs of the TexasLegislature. The Government Affairs Intern will help our advocacy team advanceour multi-faceted public policy agenda during the 2027 Texas LegislativeSession. If you are interested in a future in policy, advocacy and/orgovernment, we encourage you to apply.

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITIES

• TheGovernment Affairs Intern will work with the Deputy Director, Public Affairs to assist the department during the 90thTexas Legislative Session on tasks including, but not limited to:
• Assisting in thedevelopment and dissemination of external legislative materials to electedoffices and coalition partners;
• Conductinglegislative tracking and policy research to support advocacy initiatives;
• Providing supportfor advocacy training sessions and materials;
• Organizing andmanaging documentation related to legislative and advocacy activities;
• Tracking andsummarizing policy developments and legislative updates;
• Facilitatingoffice visits, and assisting staff/visitors in scheduling and execution ofvisits;
• Performingadministrative tasks and other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director,Public Affairs.

CANDIDATE SKILLPROFILE/REQUIREMENTS:

Preferred Qualifications/Experience:

• Current masters/juris doctoratecandidate in a relevant study area
• At least one legislativesession work experience with basic understanding of state government andthe legislative process
• Demonstrated commitment to achieving full legal andlived equality for LGBTQ+ people in Texas
• Strategic thinking with a focus on improving systems,using data to drive decision making, and an unwavering commitment toreaching goals
• Ability to handle confidential information withdiscretion
• Have general knowledge of the political, policymakingor legislative process
• Be an experienced/confident/persuasive writer
• Possess solid research, writing and analytical skills
• Have a flexible spring schedule that will allow forsome evening and weekend hours
• Understandingof and strong comfort level withadministrative office tasks
• Strong attention to detail and prioritization skills inorganizing activities, events, and one’s own work
• Ability to communicate clearly, authentically, andrespectfully through verbal and written means
• Ability to thoroughly, and sometimes quickly, researchpolicy issues and present findings to team members and other staff
• Ability to understandand maintain confidential information

Learning Objectives:

• Improveunderstanding of politics, policy, and government
• Increase knowledge of politicalstrategy
• Understand power
• Develop a deeper understandingof how advocacy impacts policy making
• Strengthen knowledge of howbest to develop relationships
• Learncopyediting skills through drafting blogs and press releases

• Understandthe culture of a nonprofit organization

ORGANIZATIONOVERVIEW

Equality Texasenvisions a Texas where all LGBTQ+ people and their families have full equalityin the hearts and minds of their fellow Texans and in all areas of the law.Headquartered in Austin, Equality Texas is dedicated to securing full legal andlived equality for LGBTQ+ Texans through political action, education, communityorganizing, and collaboration. With tens of thousands of members across thestate, Equality Texas is the state’s leading state-wide organizing and advocacyorganization for LGBTQ+ Texans.

Equality Texas is comprised of two nonprofitorganizations:

Equality TexasFoundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provideseducational programming on LGBTQ+ issues and conducts campaigns to build publicsupport for equal rights, and

Equality TexasAction, a 501(c)4 organization that conducts direct lobbyingand advocacy efforts to advance pro-LGBTQ+ legislation and candidates and todefeat anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Each organization is governed by a volunteer Board ofDirectors, who represent a cross-section of LGBTQ community, business, andphilanthropic leaders and allies.

EqualityTexas encourages people of all identities to apply.No applicant will be discriminated against because of race, color, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, nationalorigin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medicalcondition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federallaws.