TUCSON, AZ – Today, a federal district court in Tucson granted the plaintiffs’ request to certify a class action in a case challenging Arizona’s outdated requirement that transgender people must have surgery to change the gender marker on their birth certificates. This ruling means that this case will now benefit all transgender people born in Arizona, not just the individual plaintiffs who originally brought the case. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), along with co-counsel...
Proposed Rule from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Codifies Critical Nondiscrimination Protections in Essential Programs WASHINGTON, DC – The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds the Biden Administration for taking steps to eradicate harmful discrimination in federally-funded social service programs. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed regulation today clarifying that entities that receive grants from HHS to administer...
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that certain businesses that involve customized expressive messages may turn away same-sex couples or other customers. The ruling came in the case 303 Creative v. Elenis, in which the Court addressed whether a website designer in Colorado could refuse to design wedding websites for same-sex couples. Writing for the Majority, Justice Gorsuch held that “the First Amendment bars Colorado from forcing a...
If passed, historic legislation would bar discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, women, and people of color in education, employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, and other aspects of everyday life WASHINGTON, DC – Today, NCLR lauded the reintroduction of the Equality Act (S.5/H.R.15), a comprehensive federal civil rights bill that would create permanent protections for LGBTQ individuals, women, and people of color from discrimination in seven critical sectors, including housing,...
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Respect for Marriage Act WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) by a bipartisan vote of 267-157. The bill repeals the disgraceful Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) – ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 – and codifies additional federal legal protections for the marriages of same-sex couples, transgender people, and interracial couples. The bill has the strong support of...
Presidential Order Addresses the Deadly Harm of Conversion Therapy WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Biden issued a historic and sweeping executive order aimed at addressing multiple facets of discrimination against LGBTQI+ Americans. The order, timed to coincide with Pride Month, addresses the wave of anti-LGBTQI+ bills being introduced and passed in dozens of states across the country this year, as well as the mental and physical health of LGBTQI+ youth. It also announces a...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 8, 2019 Contact: Shannon Minter, NCLR Legal Director sminter@nclrights.org/ 415-624-6071 NCLR and Born Perfect Applaud Massachusetts for Becoming the 16th State to Protect LGBTQ Youth from Conversion Therapy “This is a huge victory for LGBTQ youth and their parents in Massachusetts” (Boston, MA, April 8, 2019) — Today, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed H140 into law, making...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2018 Contact: Lauren Gray, NCLR lgray@nclrights.org / (215) 983-3099 NCLR on Yesterday’s Midterm Elections NCLR’s Kate Kendell says, “We may yet save our nation and repair a U.S. Constitution in tatters” Washington, D.C.—National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Executive Director Kate Kendell issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s midterm elections:...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 6, 2018 Contact: Lauren Gray, NCLR lgray@nclrights.org / 215.983.3099 NCLR Responds to Senate Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Senate today voted to confirm Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, despite the fact that Kavanaugh faced credible allegations of attempted rape. More than...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2018 Contact: Lauren Gray, NCLR lgray@nclrights.org / 215.983.3099 NCLR Statement on President Trump’s Dismissal of Sexual Assault Allegations Against Brett Kavanaugh WASHINGTON, DC—President Trump held an open press conference today during which he addressed new sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh from a third accuser, Julie Swetnick. National Center for Lesbian Rights...
