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):-LED COALITION EFFORTS TO PASS IN CONNECTICUT ONE OF THE MOST CHILD-CENTERED, INCLUSIVE, AND COMPREHENSIVE PARENTAGE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY, ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN IN THE STATE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE SECURITY OF A LEGAL RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR PARENTS.-HELPED PASS UPDATES TO MAINE'S PARENTAGE LAWS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS OF PARENTAGE, A SIMPLE MECHANISM LONG AVAILABLE TO ESTABLISH PARENTAGE BUT PREVIOUSLY INACCESSIBLE TO SAME-SEX PARENTS IN MAINE.-HELPED PASS NEW LAWS IN RHODE ISLAND THAT INCREASE HOUSING SECURITY AND REDUCE THREATS OF HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE IN PUBLIC SPACES FOR LGBTQ RHODE ISLANDERS.-HELPED WIN A MAJOR RULING FROM THE HIGHEST COURT IN MASSACHUSETTS, HOLDING FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES BASED ON A PROSPECTIVE JUROR'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION ARE PROHIBITED BY BOTH THE MASSACHUSETTS AND FEDERAL CONSTITUTIONS.-CONTINUED COALITION WORK IN MASSACHUSETTS TO REFORM, REDUCE, AND END THE PRACTICE OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, WHICH DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CRP'S YOUTH INITIATIVE:-FILED A LAWSUIT IN FEDERAL COURT CHALLENGING A NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL CENSORSHIP BILL THAT PASSED LAST YEAR AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY CHILLS DISCOURSE ON RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AND GENDER IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC WORKPLACES. -THROUGH AMICUS BRIEFING, CONTRIBUTED TO A RULING FROM THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS UPHOLDING MASSACHUSETTS' ANTI-BULLYING LAW AND AFFIRMING THE INCLUSION OF "EMOTIONAL HARM" IN THE DEFINITION OF BULLYING.-LAUNCHED A NEW WEBSITE "SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL" WITH MOVEMENT PARTNERS, WHICH PROVIDES TOOLS TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND SUPPORTERS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST BULLYING.-PREVENTED THE REPEAL OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S BAN OF SO-CALLED "CONVERSION THERAPY" ON YOUTH. -HELPED PASS REFORMS TO MAINE'S JUVENILE LEGAL SYSTEM THAT WILL DIVERT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM INCARCERATION AND ENSURE THAT WHEN YOUTH ARE INCARCERATED, THEY HAVE A LEGAL ADVOCATE IN THEIR CORNER ABLE TO ARTICULATE THEIR CONCERNS AND ASK FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.-CONTINUED TO WORK IN COALITION TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CLOSURE OF A JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY WHERE GLAD REPRESENTED SEVERAL LGBTQ YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCED SEVERE HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON THEIR ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND/OR GENDER IDENTITY.-WORKED IN COALITION IN MASSACHUSETTS TO REFORM JUVENILE JUSTICE AND CHILD WELFARE POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

IN THE PAST YEAR, GLAD'S TRANSGENDER RIGHTS PROJECT (TRP) HAS: -CELEBRATED THE END OF TRUMP'S TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN, WHERE GLAD MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD ENDING THE BAN THROUGH FOUR SEPARATE FEDERAL CASES AND A NATIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.-FILED A FEDERAL CHALLENGE TO A LAW PASSED IN TENNESSEE LAST YEAR THAT REQUIRES BUSINESSES TO POST A "WARNING" SIGN ON RESTROOMS IF THEY TREAT TRANSGENDER CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES WITH THE SAME RESPECT AFFORDED TO ALL CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES.-IN A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND CASE, SECURED A FINDING OF REASONABLE GROUNDS FROM THE MAINE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION THAT AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY VIOLATED STATE NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS WHEN IT DENIED ADMISSION TO A 79-YEAR-OLD WOMAN BECAUSE SHE IS TRANSGENDER.-SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED TO THE NH DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO REVISE THE PROCESS FOR NONBINARY AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS TO CORRECT THE GENDER MARKER ON THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR STATE ID, ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT OF A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER'S SWORN CERTIFICATION THAT THE APPLICANT IS UNDER THE PROVIDER'S CARE FOR "CHANGE OF GENDER."-DEFEATED EFFORTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MAINE TO BAN PARTICIPATION OF TRANSGENDER GIRLS IN SCHOOL SPORTS, AS WELL AS EFFORTS IN MAINE TO ALLOW EXCLUSION OF TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM SHELTERS.-CONTINUED OUR SUCCESSFUL TRANSGENDER I.D. CLINIC TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION 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:-LED PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS ON THE HARMS OF ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS IN MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RHODE ISLAND.-PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED NEW SHELTER ACCESS CARDS FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN MAINE AND REDISTRIBUTED CARDS IN MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.-LAUNCHED WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS "SAFE SCHOOLS FOR ALL," AN ONLINE PORTAL TO HELP LGBTQ STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS AND OTHER ADULT ALLIES UNDERSTAND THE PROTECTIONS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR TAKING ACTION AGAINST BULLYING. -CONTINUED PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF UPDATING PARENTAGE LAWS IN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS. -PREPARED AND DISTRIBUTED FAQS ABOUT THE CONNECTICUT PARENTAGE ACT AND HOSTED AN INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR ABOUT THE NEW LAW.-CONDUCTED PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR FEDERAL LGBTQ NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING HOSTING A VIRTUAL JUSTICE HANGOUT ABOUT THE NEED FOR SUCH PROTECTIONS, AND WORKING WITH THE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE OF COLOR COALITION AND OTHER PARTNERS ON A STORYTELLING PROJECT TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, WHICH WILL BE COMPILED INTO A DIGITAL VIDEO PROJECT. -COORDINATED WITH COALITION PARTNERS TO DO PUBLIC EDUCATION ON A NEW REPORT FROM THE MA LGBTQ YOUTH COMMISSION ON THE RISKS AND HARMS FACING LGBTQ IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.-PUBLISHED A BI-MONTHLY COLUMN IN BOSTON SPIRIT MAGAZINE TO EDUCATE THE LGBTQ AND WIDER NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY ABOUT ISSUES RELATED TO LGBTQ EQUALITY.-PARTICIPATED IN STANDING COALITIONS: THE MA TRANS HEALTH COALITION, PRIDE IN BOSTON COMMUNITY PLANNING COALITION, MA EQUITY TASK FORCE, NATIONAL LGBTQ ANTI-POVERTY ACTION NETWORK, AMONG OTHERS. -HOSTED AN ANNUAL DAY-LONG VIRTUAL NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC POLICY CONVENING AND QUARTERLY RI PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCATES CONVENINGS TO SHARE NEW ENGLAND PRIORITIES, STRATEGIZE AROUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION, AND PRESENT IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT INCLUSIVE LGBTQ SCHOOL POLICIES AND CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM REFORM EFFORTS.-HOSTED A PUBLIC FORUM ON CROSS-GENERATIONAL TRANSGENDER RIGHTS ADVOCACY-HOSTED, STAFFED, OR PARTICIPATED IN OVER 100 VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON PUBLIC EDUCATION, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. -ANSWERED 1,346 DISTINCT CALLS THROUGH OUR GLAD ANSWERS LINE AND HAD 84 INTAKES FOR THE ID PROJECT.-REFINED OUR REMOTE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, RECRUITING 17 NEW VOLUNTEERS TO HELP SERVE GLAD ANSWERS CALLERS.-DIGITIZED AND UPDATED THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR GLAD'S LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE, AND BEGAN EFFORTS TO RECRUIT NEW ATTORNEYS IN RURAL AND OTHER UNDERSERVED PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND-FINALIZED ACCESSIBLE, WEB-BASED SELF-DIRECTED GUIDES FOR NAME AND GENDER CHANGES IN 4 OUT OF 6 NEW ENGLAND STATES FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT NEED TO WORK WITH AN ATTORNEY. -HAD 320,599 PAGE VIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE FROM APRIL 2021 TO MARCH 2022.

IN THE PAST YEAR, THE AIDS LAW PROJECT (ALP):-HELPED PASS BILL IN MAINE THAT EXTENDS PREP ACCESS TO PHARMACIES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO THIS LIFE-CHANGING MEDICATION PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE IN RURAL AREAS.-CONTINUED TO MONITOR ONGOING STATE LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN NEW ENGLAND THAT SEEK TO ROLL BACK HARD-WON GAINS PROTECTING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF HIV INFORMATION IN MEDICAL RECORDS. -CONTINUING TO MONITOR AND WORK ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT FOR HIV-POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM LIPODYSTROPHY.