news & opinion
Statement
NCLR Responds to Ninth Circuit Decision Blocking Release of the Historic Prop 8 Trial Video and Overturning District Court Order
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
2.02.12—Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the public release of the video of the historic trial to overturn Proposition 8, the 2008 measure that stripped same-sex couples of the right to marry in California. The court overturned a federal district court decision ordering the release of the video.
Statement
NCLR Responds to Susan G. Komen Decision to Cut Planned Parenthood Funding
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
2.01.12—Yesterday, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced it would no longer financially support Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country to help them provide thousands of breast exams per year. “How sad, destructive and unconscionable for Susan G. Komen for the Cure to turn its back on the very women it pretends to help. When self-interest and wealth accumulation become your primary goals, the first casualties are integrity and values. The only action Komen can take to restore some shred of dignity is to reverse this tragic decision.”
Press Release
Plaintiffs in Howe v. Haslam Respond to Ruling
1.30.12—On January 25, 2012, Chancellor Carol L. McCoy of the Davidson County Chancery Court in Nashville issued a preliminary order in Howe v. Haslam. Howe is the highly publicized case challenging the Tennessee Legislature’s enactment of HB 600, which overturned a Metro non-discrimination ordinance by prohibiting municipalities and counties, including local school districts, from enacting local laws or school policies that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people against discrimination. The order gives the plaintiffs in the case 30 days to provide additional proof that they have been harmed by the law to avoid having the case dismissed.
Statement
NCLR Applauds New HUD Rule Ensuring Equal Access to Housing for LGBT Community
Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.
1.28.12—Today, the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced an important new rule that greatly increases protections against housing discrimination for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
The new rule, which will be published next week and go into effect 30 days after that, makes several critical changes to current housing and housing-related programs including: prohibiting owners and operators of HUD-assisted or HUD-insured housing from discriminating against an applicant or occupant of a residence based on sexual orientation or gender identity; prohibiting all lenders offering Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages from considering sexual orientation or gender identity in determining a borrower’s eligibility; and clarifying the definition of "family" to ensure that otherwise eligible participants in any HUD programs will not be excluded based on marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Press Release
The National Center for Lesbian Rights Celebrates 35th Anniversary
1.20.12—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is proud to announce that it will honor seven heroes in the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality at its 2012 Anniversary Celebration—which marks its 35th year—on May 5, 2012 at San Francisco’s City View at Metreon. Tickets are now available for the event, which begins at 8 p.m., with the well-known political humorist Kate Clinton returning for a command performance as emcee.
Statement
LGBT Legal Groups: Canadian Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Are Not in Jeopardy
Statement by NCLR, Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, and Freedom to Marry
1.12.12—We write to respond to a news report from Canada that a lawyer in the current government has taken a position in a trial-level divorce proceeding that a same-sex couple’s marriage is not valid because the members of the couple were not Canada residents at the time that they married, and the law of their home jurisdiction did not permit them to marry at the time. No one’s marriage has been invalidated or is likely to be invalidated. The position taken by one government lawyer in a divorce is not itself precedential. No court has accepted this view and there is no reason to believe that either Canada’s courts or its Parliament would agree with this position, which no one has asserted before during the eight years that same-sex couples have had the freedom to marry in Canada.
Press Release
Outsports Names NCLR Sports Project Director Helen Carroll and GLSEN’s Pat Griffin “Persons of the Year” for 2011
1.05.12—National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Sports Project Director Helen Carroll and Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s Changing the Game Project Director Pat Griffin have been named by Outsports readers as the 2011 “Persons of the Year.”
Press Release
New Guide for LGBT Elders in California Provides Comprehensive Information About Their Rights and Benefits
12.20.11—A pioneering new guide released today gives California’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elders—who are more likely to face discrimination, be low-income, and live in poverty—comprehensive information about their rights and the services that are available to them as they navigate the system of public and social benefits.
Statement
NCLR, HUD, HHS Co-Host First-Ever National Summit on LGBT Elder Housing, Health, and Long-Term Care Issues
Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert
12.09.11—This week, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) co-hosted a day-long summit on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elder housing issues with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This is the first-ever national event to address housing, health and long-term care issues for LGBT elders. More than 90 people registered for the event, and the list of attendees included three assistant secretaries.
Statement
NCLR Responds to Proposition 8 Case Hearing
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
12.08.11—Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument about whether the courts should publicly release the video of the historic trial to overturn Proposition 8, the measure that stripped same-sex couples of the right to marry in California. The court also heard oral argument on Prop 8 supporters’ outrageous request to throw out the court decision striking down the initiative.
Press Release
NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert Named as One of Ebony Magazine’s ‘Power 100’
12.07.11—The National Center for Lesbian Rights is proud to announce that its Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert has been named one of this year’s 100 most notable people by Ebony Magazine, the nation’s premier black magazine.
Statement
NCLR Applauds Secretary Clinton’s Groundbreaking Speech on the Human Rights of LGBT People
Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
12.06.11—The National Center for Lesbian Rights applauds Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for her groundbreaking speech today on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Speaking to human rights leaders from around the world, Secretary Clinton made a powerful case for the full inclusion of LGBT people in human rights protections, and pledged that securing those rights is a priority of the Obama administration’s foreign policy. In her remarks, Secretary Clinton said: “To LGBT men and women worldwide, wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to networks of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. . . . You have an ally in the United States of America.”
Statement
NCLR Commemorates World AIDS Day, Commends Obama Administration for Working to End the Pandemic
Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert
12.01.11—Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights joins advocates around the world commemorating World AIDS Day to remember those we have lost to this disease, to acknowledge the significant advances we have made, and to raise awareness about how far we still must come in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the struggle to protect those living with infection. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 33.3 million people have HIV worldwide, and 1.2 million of those people are in the United States. World AIDS Day is recognized on December 1st annually, and provides an opportunity to educate and advocate about the importance of decreasing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and protecting those living with HIV/AIDS from discrimination and mistreatment based on their status.
Press Release
Parties Settle Case Challenging Disqualification of Bisexual Players’ Team At 2008 Gay Softball World Series 11.28.11—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), K&L Gates LLP, and the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) have negotiated a settlement in a case brought against NAGAAA by three bisexual softball players whose team was disqualified from competition following a protest hearing at the 2008 Gay Softball World Series in Seattle.
Statement
NCLR Responds to California Supreme Court Ruling in Proposition 8 Case
Statement by NCLR Federal Executive Director Kate Kendell
11.17.11—Today, the California Supreme Court issued a decision holding that California law empowers the sponsors of Proposition 8 to appeal the federal district court’s decision in Perry v. Brown finding Prop 8 unconstitutional, even though the state’s Attorney General and Governor both agree that the district court decision striking down Prop 8 should not be appealed.
case updates and program highlights
Pending (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) and Faegre & Benson 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 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 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:
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