news & opinion
Statement
NCLR Applauds President's Support of Marriage Equality
Statement by NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter, Esq.
5.9.12—Today, President Barack Obama told ABC News that he supports marriage equality, becoming the first president in the nation’s history to endorse marriage for same-sex couples.
Press Release
More than 1,500 People Honor Seven Heroes of LGBT Equality at NCLR’s 35th Anniversary Celebration
5.5.12—Tonight, more than 1,500 people honored seven heroes in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at the National Center for Lesbian Rights’ 35th Anniversary Celebration.
Press Release
California Court of Appeal Rules for Same-Sex Partner in Inheritance Dispute
Court Recognizes New Legal Claim for Unmarried Partners Intentionally Deprived of Expected Inheritance
5.4.12—Yesterday, the California Court of Appeal established an important new legal protection for unmarried partners who are wrongfully prevented from inheriting property from each other when one partner dies.
Statement
NCLR Applauds Federal Agency Ruling Protecting Transgender Workers
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.
4.24.12—Yesterday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency charged with enforcing federal laws against workplace discrimination, issued a landmark ruling that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects transgender workers. The EEOC held that discrimination against a transgender employee on the basis of the employee’s gender identity is prohibited sex discrimination under federal law. While a number of federal courts have issued similar decisions, this is the first time the EEOC has ruled on this issue.
Press Release
Civil Rights Organizations Announce Agreement to Resolve Anoka-Hennepin School District Bullying Lawsuits
Student Plaintiffs to Hold Press Conference Tuesday
3.5.12—Tonight, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and the law firms of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP and Culberth and Lienemann LLP announced an agreement on behalf of six students who filed two federal gender and sexual-orientation harassment lawsuits against Anoka-Hennepin School District.
Statement
NCLR Applauds Maryland's Marriage Equality Bill Being Signed into Law
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.
3.1.12—Today, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed HB 438—a bill providing full marriage rights for same-sex couples—into law. Maryland will become the 11th jurisdiction in the country in which same-sex couples can marry when the law goes into effect on January 1, 2013.
case updates and program highlights
Victory! (Minnesota)
Doe v. Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11 and E.R. v. Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11
NCLR, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, and Culberth and Lienemann LLP represent a group of former and current students from the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Minnesota who experienced pervasive verbal and physical harrassment based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender expression.
read more read the press release 03.05.12 read the press release 07.21.11 read the press release 08.09.11
Victory! (California)
Perry v. Brown
On May 22, 2009, two same-sex couples filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, challenging California’s Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to prohibit marriage by same-sex couples.
read NCLR's response to the Ninth Circuit decision declaring Prop 8 unconstitutional read NCLR's response to the Ninth Circuit decision blocking release of Prop 8 trial video read Judge Ware's decision to uphold the ruling read more watch the video of the Prop 8 oral argument. read the amicus brief filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal by NCLR, the ACLU and Lambda Legal on October 25, 2010 (pdf) read Judge Walker's decision (pdf) read NCLR’s analysis of the CA Supreme Court standing decision read more about NCLR's marriage work read NCLR and EQCA's SB-54 faq (pdf) read NCLR's faq on Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in California (pdf)
Victory! (U.S. Supreme Court)
Christian Legal Society v. Martinez
Like many public schools, the University of California - Hastings College of the Law allows law students to organize student groups that can apply for university funding and other resources for group-related events. To be recognized as an official student group, all student groups must abide by Hastings' policy on nondiscrimination. In 2004, the Christian Legal Society (CLS) filed a lawsuit against Hastings, arguing that the nondiscrimination policy violated the group's First Amendment right to discriminate against LGBT and non-Christian students. NCLR represents Outlaw, the LGBT student group at Hastings, which intervened to defend the University's policy. Hastings is represented by Ethan Schulman of Crowell & Moring LLP.
Victory! (California)
Greene v. County of Sonoma et al.
In a tragic case that touched the hearts of thousands across the country, NCLR clients Clay Greene and the estate of Harold Scull, Greene's deceased partner of 20 years, reached a settlement on July 22 resolving their lawsuit against the County of Sonoma and other defendants.
Legislative Highlight
ENDA
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a bill to create a federal law which would prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, defined to include gender expression. It would provide critically-needed protection for people at serious risk of job discrimination. After years of hard work and thousands of conversations with law and policymakers, we are poised to pass an ENDA inclusive of gender identity in this Congress. In order to achieve that, senators and representatives must hear from their constituents that this bill is a high priority for the LGBT community. President Obama has identified passing this bill, inclusive of both sexual orientation and gender identity, as one of his civil rights agenda priorities.
Over the past 30 years the National Center for Lesbian Rights has been at the forefront of nearly every legal gain won for LGBT people and families.
Each issue listed here provides a wealth of information regarding:
- cases we've been involved in
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Do you have legal questions related to your sexual orientation or gender identity?
The information on our website is here to help you. If you don’t find the answers to your questions on our website, NCLR's online help form can help you find the answers.
