Glbtq Legal Advocates & Defenders Inc

LEGAL ADVOCATES & DEFENDERS FOR THE LGBTQ AND HIV+ COMMUNITIES - SEE SCH O

IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT (CRP):- HELPED PASS LAWS IN MAINE AND RHODE ISLAND STREAMLINING THE PROCESS FOR LGBTQ PARENTS TO CONFIRM THEIR LEGAL PARENTAGE THROUGH A CONFIRMATORY ADOPTION, PROVIDING ADDED SECURITY FOR CHILDREN AND LGBTQ FAMILIES. - CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR STATES TO UPDATE THEIR PARENTAGE LAWS TO ENSURE THAT LGBTQ FAMILIES AND ALL FAMILIES FORMED THROUGH ASSISTED REPRODUCTION ARE RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED, REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS OR GENETIC RELATIONSHIP. WE WERE MOST ACTIVE IN MICHIGAN AND MASSACHUSETTS.- WORKED WITH REPRODUCTIVE EQUITY PARTNERS TO ADVOCATE AGAINST HARMFUL STATE BILLS THAT WOULD INTRODUCE DISCRIMINATION INTO FAMILY BUILDING HEALTH CARE- COLLABORATED WITH PARTNERS AT THE MOVEMENT ADVANCEMENT PROJECT TO RELEASE A REPORT ON THE STATE OF PARENTAGE LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE NEED TO UPDATE THEM TO PROTECT CHILDREN OF LGBTQ PARENTS- WITH ACLU STATE AFFILIATES, SENT LETTERS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MA, ME, AND NH ADVISING SCHOOLS ON THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS AND URGING THEM TO REJECT CALLS FOR BOOK BANS- HAD ORAL ARGUMENT IN OUR CHALLENGE TO A NEW HAMPSHIRE "DIVISIVE CONCEPTS" LAW, WHICH PROHIBITS PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS FROM TEACHING AND TALKING ABOUT RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AND GENDER IDENTITY IN CERTAIN WAYS IN SCHOOL. - ADVOCATED FOR POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATES SUPPORTING LGBTQ+ STUDENTS WITH FRIEND-OF-THE-COURT BRIEFS IN MULTIPLE CASES INCLUDING FOOTE V. LUDLOW SCHOOL COMMITTEE (1ST CIRCUIT); LM V. MIDDLEBOROUGH (1ST CIRCUIT)L DOE V. MANCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT (NH SUPREME COURT); AND MAHMOUD V. MCKNIGHT (4TH CIRCUIT)- FOLLOWING THE U.S. SUPREME RULING IN 303 CREATIVE LLC V. ELENIS GRANTING A NARROW RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF "CREATIVE" BUSINESSES UNDER NARROW CIRCUMSTANCES, AUTHORED WITH PARTNERS AN FAQ TO EXPLAIN THE LIMITS OF THE RULING AND THE CONTINUED EFFICACY AND NECESSITY OF STATE AND FEDERAL PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION LAWS. - BROUGHT ON TWO LEGAL FELLOWS TO WORK ON RESEARCH TO STRENGTHEN LEGAL STRATEGIES TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY FROM ONGOING ATTACKS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE MARRIAGE EQUALITY- CONTINUED COALITION EFFORTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND MAINE TO REFORM CRIMINAL JUSTICE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND CHILD WELFARE POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

IN THE PAST YEAR, THE AIDS LAW PROJECT (ALP):- HELPED PASS A LAW IN RHODE ISLAND ALLOWING PHARMACISTS TO DISPENSE A LIMITED SUPPLY OF PREP FOR HIV PREVENTION WITHOUT A PRIOR PRESCRIPTION, AND ADVOCATED FOR A SIMILAR LAW IN MASSACHUSETTS (STILL PENDING)- ADVOCATED IN MA AND RI FOR LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS COST SHARING OR PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FOR ANY HIV PREVENTION MEDICATION IN ORDER TO REDUCE RACIAL AND OTHER DISPARITIES IN THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF PREP - AUTHORED AND SUBMITTED A FRIEND-OF-THE-COURT BRIEF TO THE 5TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS IN A CASE REGARDING THE MANDATE UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THAT CERTAIN PREVENTATIVE MEDICAL CARE INCLUDING PREP BE COVERED WITHOUT COPAYS. BASED ON RESEARCH FROM YALE, OUR BRIEF ON BEHALF OF HIV DOCTORS AND EXPERTS ESTIMATED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE HIV CASES WOULD OCCUR IF THE LOWER COURT'S RULING STRIKING THE MANDATE WERE UPHELD.

IN THE PAST YEAR, THE GLAD'S TRANSGENDER RIGHTS PROJECT (TRP) HAS: - OBTAINED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION PUTTING ON HOLD A FLORIDA STATUTE THAT BANS TRANSITION MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANSGENDER ADOLESCENTS, AND CONDUCTED A THREE-DAY MERITS TRIAL ON THE STATUTE'S BAN ON CARE FOR ADOLESCENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON CARE FOR TRANSGENDER ADULTS. - CONTINUED LITIGATING OUR CHALLENGE TO A SIMILAR ALABAMA LAW THAT CRIMINALIZES HEALTH CARE FOR TRANSGENDER ADOLESCENTS, AND SUPPORTED CHALLENGES TO BANS IN OTHER STATES THROUGH APPELLATE COURT BRIEFING.- HELPED PASS A LAW IN VERMONT THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL PROTECTIONS FOR ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING ABORTION CARE, AND ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, INCLUDING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY TRAVEL FROM OUT-OF-STATE TO SEEK CARE- FILED A FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGE ON BEHALF OF A TRANSGENDER WOMAN WHO IS BEING DENIED COVERAGE FOR ANY TRANSITION RELATED HEALTH CARE UNDER HER EMPLOYER'S - TURBOCAM SELF-FUNDED HEALTH PLAN. WE ALSO NAME HARVARD PILGRIM AND HEALTH PLANS, INC., WHICH ADMINISTER THE PLAN, IN THE SUIT.- COMPLETED BRIEFING AND FILED A MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN OUR CHALLENGE TO A FEDERAL STATUTE THAT PROHIBITS GENDER AFFIRMATION SURGERIES FOR DEPENDENTS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL. - PREVENTED ANTI-TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION IN NEW ENGLAND AND BEYOND FROM MOVING FORWARD. - SUPPORTED 352 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR TRANSGENDER I.D. CLINIC, WHICH PROVIDES LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND SELF-HELP MATERIALS TO TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN NEW ENGLAND TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES AND IDENTITY DOCUMENTS.

IN THE PAST YEAR, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (PA&E) ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING:- LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE WITH A FOCUS ON BETTER ACCESSIBILITY AND EASIER NAVIGATION.- LED PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS TO ADVOCATE FOR SEVERAL PRO-EQUALITY LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN NEW ENGLAND AND ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING STREAMLINED CONFIRMATORY ADOPTION LAWS, REPRODUCTIVE AND TRANSGENDER HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SHIELD BILLS, LGBTQ+ INCLUSIVE PARENTAGE LAWS; AS WELL AS AGAINST ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND- SUPPORTED PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS ON THE HARMS OF DENYING PARENTS THE ABILITY TO SEEK STANDARD OF CARE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN- PUBLISHED LGBTQ PATHS TO PARENTAGE WITH MOMBIAN, A RESOURCE FOR LGBTQ PARENTS TO LEARN ABOUT PATHS TO LEGALLY SECURE THEIR FAMILIES- PRODUCED A SHORT VIDEO COMMEMORATING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANDMARK MASSACHUSETTS GOODRIDGE MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING- HOSTED QUARTERLY RI LGBTQ PUBLIC POLICY CONVENINGS.- HOSTED AN ANNUAL, VIRTUAL NEW ENGLAND-WISE PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY CONVENING- CONTINUED OUR BIMONTHLY COLUMN IN BOSTON SPIRIT TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON PENDING LEGAL ISSUES- PRODUCED OR ATTENDED OVER 130 COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, INCLUDING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOPS AND ID UPDATE CLINICS- ANSWERED 1,787 DISTINCT INTAKES THROUGH OUR GLAD ANSWERS LEGAL INFORMATION LINE, PROVIDING LEGAL INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND LAWYER REFERRALS TO LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING DISCRIMINATION OR OTHER LEGAL CONCERNS.