National Center For Lesbian Rights

NCLR IS A NATIONAL LEGAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH LITIGATION, LEGISLATION, POLICY, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. NCLR IS A NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRM THAT LITIGATES PRECEDENT-SETTING CASES AT THE TRIAL AND APPELLATE COURT LEVELS; ADVOCATES FOR EQUITABLE PUBLIC POLICIES AFFECTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY; PROVIDES FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO LGBTQ PEOPLE AND THEIR LEGAL ADVOCATES; AND CONDUCTS COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON LGBTQ ISSUES.

PROTECTED LGBTQ YOUTH FROM SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY CHANGE EFFORTS, ALSO KNOWN AS "CONVERSION THERAPY," THROUGH NCLR'S BORN PERFECT CAMPAIGN. WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS AND EQUALITY GROUPS IN KENTUCKY, MINNESOTA, NEBRASKA, OKLAHOMA, AND TEXAS TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION PROTECTING LGBTQ YOUTH FROM CONVERSION THERAPY; AND WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN 23 MUNICIPALITIES THAT ENACTED MEASURES AGAINST CONVERSION THERAPY PRACTICES. ASSISTED EQUALITY GROUPS IN 18 STATES THROUGH ASSISTANCE IN DRAFTING AND ADVOCATING FOR NEW STATE THAT PROHIBIT CONVERSION-THERAPY PRACTICES. DEFENDED AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES IN THE FEDERAL FOURTH AND ELEVENTH CIRCUITS. FILED REGULATORY COMPLAINTS REPRESENTING SURVIVORS AGAINST PRACTITIONERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR HARM THEY CAUSED IN KENTUCKY AND TEXAS; WORKED WITH STATE AGENCIES TO ADDRESS CONVERSION THERAPY THROUGH REGULATION AND EXECUTIVE ACTION IN MICHIGAN, NORTH DAKOTA, AND WISCONSIN; AND EDUCATED FAMILIES AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF THESE PRACTICES THROUGH THE BORN PERFECT WEBSITE, LOCAL AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS, AND NUMEROUS MEDIA OUTLETS. WORKED WITH ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO END RELIGIOUS CONVERSION-THERAPY COUNSELING WITHIN THE DENOMINATION; EXPANDED OUR NETWORK OF CONVERSION THERAPY SURVIVORS BY 30%, COLLABORATED WITH FORMER LEADERS OF CONVERSION-THERAPY PROGRAMS AND WITH LEADERS IN THE SURVIVOR MOVEMENT TO AMPLIFY THEIR STORIES TO FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH, AND THE PUBLIC. ESTABLISHED TIES WITH THE SURVIVORS OF THE TROUBLED TEEN INDUSTRY WHO ARE SHARING SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

HELPED OVERCOME IMMIGRATION HURDLES FACED BY LGBTQ IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING THOSE IN DETENTION AND IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEEDINGS. PROVIDED FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND DIRECTLY REPRESENTED LGBTQ IMMIGRANTS IN INDIVIDUAL ASYLUM CLAIMS, AND ASSISTED PRIVATE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING LGBTQ IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT THE U.S., PARTICIPATED IN IMPACT CASES AFFECTING IMMIGRANTS. TO DATE, WE HAVE WON EVERY ASYLUM CASE WE HAVE BROUGHT.

LITIGATED ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CASES IN COURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ON BEHALF OF LGBTQ PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVING A CASE REPRESENTING A LESBIAN COUPLE DENIED A PLACE IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND PARTICIPATING AS AMICUS IN ADDITIONAL ANTIDISCRIMINATION CASES. WE WORKED TO IMPLEMENT THE BOSTOCK DECISION THROUGH TRAININGS, COALITION BUILDING, BLOG POSTS, AND CASE TRACKING AND SUPPORT. THE CASES ARE AS FOLLOWS: DOE V. DOE - CATEGORY #8: CASE BETWEEN PARENTS IN NEW JERSEY REGARDING CONSENT TO TREATMENT FOR GENDER DYSPHORIA. THE MATTER WAS SETTLED PRIOR TO A DECISION ON THE MERITS, RECOGNIZING THAT THE "BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD" FACTORS REQUIRE FOLLOWING THE PREVAILING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE TREATMENT GENDER DYSPHORIA. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED. HENDERSON V. BOX - CATEGORY #7: CASE AGAINST THE STATE OF INDIANA FOR REFUSING TO PLACE SAME-SEX PARENTS ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES. THIS CASE FURTHERED THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO BE ACCURATELY LISTED ON IDENTITY DOCUMENTS. $13,798.40 IN FEES WERE RECOVERED FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA. MATHEWS V. LEFEVER - CATEGORY #7: PARENTAGE AND CUSTODY CASE IN MICHIGAN WHERE THE COURT REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE A GESTATIONAL MOTHER AS A PARENT. THIS CASE FURTHERED THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS TO BE RECOGNIZED BY COURTS. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED. IN RE JOSEPHINA RODRIGUEZ - CATEGORY #7: GUARDIANSHIP MATTER IN WHICH THE CHILDREN OF MS. RODRIGUEZ MOVED HER TO FLORIDA WITHOUT TELLING HER LONG-TERM PARTNER AND THEN SOUGHT TO EXCLUDE THE PARTNER FROM THE PROCEEDINGS. THE CASE FURTHERED THE RIGHTS OF SAME SEX PARTNERS WHO HAVE NO FORMAL, LEGAL RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR LONG-TERM PARTNER. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT AND RECOVERED IN THE CASE. TINGLEY V. FERGUSON - CATEGORY #12: THIS CASE SEEKS TO DEFEND WASHINGTON'S STATE LAW PROTECTING LGBTQ YOUTH FROM CONVERSION THERAPY BY LICENSED THERAPISTS. THE CASE REMAINS PENDING BUT SEEKS TO FURTHER THE RIGHTS OF LGBTQ YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS TO BE PROTECTED FROM THE SERIOUS HARMS CAUSED BY CONVERSION THERAPY. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED IN THE CASE. CURB RECORDS V. LEE - CATEGORY #1: THIS CASE CHALLENGES ON FIRST AMENDMENT GROUNDS A TENNESSEE LAW REQUIRING BUSINESSES AND OTHERS TO POST DISCRIMINATORY AND STIGMATIZING MESSAGES ON PUBLIC RESTROOMS WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE BY TRANSGENDER PERSONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. THE CASE REMAINS PENDING BUT SEEKS TO FURTHER THE RIGHTS OF BUSINESSES AND OTHERS TO BE FREE OF STATE COMPULSION TO ENGAGE IN SPEECH TO WHICH THEY OBJECT. NO FEES WERE RECOVERED IN THE CASE. DOE V. AUSTIN - CATEGORY #1: THIS WAS A CHALLENGE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSGENDER SERVICEMEMBERS. THIS CASE BENEFITED THE PUBLIC BY STOPPING OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TRANSGENDER SERVICEMEMBERS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. PURSUANT TO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PAY $282,426.66 IN FEES FOR DOE V. AUSTIN AND STOCKMAN V. AUSTIN. THESE FEES WERE NOT YET RECOVERED BY THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2021. STOCKMAN V. AUSTIN - CATEGORY #1: THIS WAS A CHALLENGE TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPT TO BAN TRANSGENDER SERVICEMEMBERS. THIS CASE BENEFITED THE PUBLIC BY STOPPING OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST TRANSGENDER SERVICEMEMBERS IN VIOLATION OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. PURSUANT TO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PAY FEES IN A CONSOLIDATED SETTLEMENT INVOLVING THE CASE DOE V. AUSTIN, DESCRIBED ABOVE. EDMO V. IDAHO DEPT OF CORRECTIONS - CATEGORY #2: THIS CASE INVOLVED IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONSX AND CORIZON HEALTH'S FAILURE TO PROVIDE TRANSITION-RELATED CARE TO A TRANSGENDER PRISONER IN VIOLATION OF THE 8TH AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. SINCE PREVAILING IN THE CASE AND SECURING SURGERY FOR OUR CLIENT, THE APPELLATE DECISION HAS BEEN CITED MORE THAN 200 TIMES, INCLUDING IN MORE THAN 50 LAW REVIEW ARTICLES. A FEE REQUEST HAS BEEN FILED IN THE CASE BUT REMAINS PENDING. DOE V. SNYDER - CATEGORY #2: CASE CHALLENGING ARIZONA MEDICAID'S EXCLUSION OF COVERAGE FOR SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR GENDER DYSPHORIA. THIS CASE IS ONGOING, BUT HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN A NINTH CIRCUIT OPINION REAFFIRMING THAT FEDERAL LAWS PROHIBITING SEX DISCRIMINATION PROTECT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED IN THE CASE. MERIWETHER V. SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY - CATEGORY #3: NCLR INTERVENED IN THIS CASE ON BEHALF OF TRANSGENDER STUDENT TO HELP DEFEND SHAWNEE'S ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICY FROM A CHALLENGE FILED BY A PROFESSOR ALLEGING A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST TRANSGENDER STUDENT IN HIS CLASSES. THIS CASE SEEKS TO SAFEGUARD THE AUTHORITY OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICIES THAT PROTECT THE RIGHT OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS TO EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED IN THE CASE. ROE V. HERRINGTON - CATEGORY #2: CASE CHALLENGING ARIZONA'S REQUIREMENT THAT A TRANSGENDER PERSON UNDERGO SURGICAL TREATMENT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE THROUGH A PRIVATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS. THIS CASE IS ONGOING AND WOULD HELP EXPAND ACCESS TO CORRECTED BIRTH CERTIFICATES, ESPECIALLY FOR TRANSGENDER YOUNG PEOPLE FOR WHOM SURGERY IS NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED IN THE CASE. VLAMING V. WEST POINT SCHOOL BOARD - CATEGORY #3: A TRANSGENDER STUDENT WHO WAS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY HIS HIGH SCHOOL FRENCH TEACHER SOUGHT AND WAS DENIED INTERVENTION IN A CASE FILED BY THE TEACHER CHALLENGING HIS TERMINATION FOR VIOLATING THE SCHOOL'S ANTIDISCRIMINATION POLICY. THIS CASE IS ONGOING BUT HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN THE DISMISSAL OF HIS COMPLAINT, REINFORCING THE AUTHORITY OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY. NO FEES WERE SOUGHT OR RECOVERED IN THE CASE. 25 ASYLUM AND U-VISA CASES IN LITIGATION. IN THESE CASES, WE REPRESENT ASYLEES AND IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF CRIME WHO CANNOT AFFORD LEGAL COUNSEL - CATEGORY #13