As of June 9th, NCLR has officially changed our name to National Center for LGBTQ Rights. While our name has changed, our mission has not. NCLR will always be 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. This is the heart of NCLR’s work, and that will never change.

NCLR President Imani Rupert-Gordon said of the change:

“NCLR’s feminist roots have always called on us to support and amplify the most under-represented communities and those often left out of the mainstream movements. At a time when the LGBTQ community is facing increasing attacks, it is critical that we are crystal clear that we represent the entire community. Without losing touch with our roots, NCLR will continue its nearly 50-year commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community, forging new partnerships and working toward a day when every LGBTQ person can live with full dignity, equality and freedom under the law.”

If you have practical or logistical questions about the name change, please reach out to us at development@nclrights.org. Press inquiries should be directed to communications@nclrights.org. Please note that our mailing address has also changed. Contact Us – National Center for LGBTQ Rights

Thank you for your commitment to LGBTQ rights!

This Pride month, we want to focus on the hope we continue to hold for our community. Despite how tough these last few months have been for many of us, we want to focus on bravery, pride, and joy.

While we know there are challenges ahead, let’s remember that we are here not despite our struggle, but because of it, and our insistence on living full and authentic queer lives leaves an indelible mark on the world.

Our pride – and our joy – is revolutionary.

NCLR is proud to celebrate with you. Happy Revolutionary Pride!

June 26th marks the anniversary of the historic supreme court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage, so this June we’re celebrating ten years of marriage equality!

NCLR was at the forefront of this effort, first filing suit on October 21, 2013, on behalf of three legally married same-sex couples, challenging Tennessee laws that prevented the state from respecting their marriages and treating them the same as all other legally married couples in Tennessee. The plaintiff’s in NCLR’s case, Tanco v. Haslam, became part of a group of plaintiffs from other states within the 6th district that appealed to the Supreme Court and resulted in victory when the court ruled in favor of all married couples in the case, legalizing marriage equality in all 50 states.

Follow NCLR on our social media channels to stay tuned for ways we’ll be honoring this special anniversary.

We had such a beautiful day at Pride in the Park! NCLR’s Pride party and fundraiser was a perfect day of fun in the sun. Thank you to our performers, artisans, and guests for making the day so special.

NCLR Senior Staff Attorney, Amy Whelan, reminded us that celebrating pride is good for the collective soul. But also, that NCLR’s clients do the bravest, most hopeful thing we could ask – put their personal lives on the line, make themselves vulnerable to hate, and show up again and again for cases that might take years. Parents and kids, spouses and families, people who are just trying to live their lives, who want to do their jobs and support their families, all deserve equal rights. NCLR is proud to support them.

Visit our Instagram page to experience Pride in the Park from performer Anais Azul’s mom’s point of view. Check out our photo gallery.

In the latest assault on transgender troops, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed transgender servicemembers to self-identify for separation by June 6th—July 7th for reservists—or face “involuntary separation.” NCLR and GLAD Law report that transgender servicemembers are struggling with an impossible choice.

Hear from one of our plaintiffs, Nic Talbott, in an interview with PBS News Hour as he contemplates the difficult decision he’s being forced to make. Watch here.

Talbott v. USA, and a second legal challenge to the ban, Shilling v. USA, are continuing through the courts. Talbott v. USA is awaiting the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decision on the government’s motion to put the lower court’s ruling on hold. The recent Supreme Court order in Shilling does not apply to Talbott.

OUTWORDS is an online archive capturing, preserving, and sharing the stories of California’s LGBTQ elders. Since November 2024, OUTWORDS has recorded nearly 350 interviews in 46 states and Washington, D.C. with elders from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.

As part of the OUTWORDS project, NCLR’s Legal Director Shannon Minter was interviewed in 2016. Shannon reflected on his life, growing up in rural Texas, and how his faith remains an important part of his identity. Watch Shannon’s interview.

OUTWORDS recently embarked on a multi-media project called “Dare to Be Powerful: How LGBTQ+ Elders Transformed California Politics Forever”. We invite you to explore the stories of these elders and listen to the OUTWODS podcast Queering Precedent, a series that delves into the history of transgender, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGI) visibility and legal rights, in California and beyond.

June 19, 2025 will mark the 160th anniversary of the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was on this day that word finally arrived to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas that they were free.

Opal Lee, considered the Grandmother of Juneteenth, was instrumental in advocating for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday. As we mark this day of independence, NCLR recognizes the current struggles Black Americans face and obstacles standing in the way of systemic equality. We hope you take time this Juneteenth to reflect on the meaning and spirit behind this important holiday.

In celebration of Pride Month, Holbrook House is opening for a rare Saturday night dinner from 4 PM to 11 PM, with a portion of the evening’s proceeds supporting NCLR’s work! If you live in the Bay Area and would like to dine out and benefit NCLR for Pride, make a reservation today.

Holbrook House is located at: One Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104

NCLR is thrilled to be invited to participate in Threads of Pride, presented by San Francisco Pride. The evening will feature a bold, unforgettable fashion show that redefines LGBTQ+ activism through beauty, creativity, and collective power. This event brings together designers, models, and iconic nonprofit organizations on one runway—each color telling a story of resilience, resistance, and hope.

Threads of Pride will showcase 9 LGBTQ+ nonprofits through curated fashion narratives, with leaders from each organization walking the runway in ensembles inspired by their mission and colors.

This isn’t just fashion—it’s a call to action. Guests will be invited to engage in real-time by donating, volunteering, and sharing the causes spotlighted during the show. Learn more