Legislation & Policy
Transgender Elder Law Clinic
In collaboration with the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, NCLR organized one of the first transgender-specific elder law clinics in March 2013. NCLR organized volunteer attorneys and advocates from the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, Transgender Law Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Legal Aid Foundation of L.A., Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, Inner City Law Center, and private attorneys. The clinic provided information and resources (in English and Spanish) regarding Medicare, Medi-Cal, Social Security, General Assistance and veterans’ benefits, healthcare, identity documents, housing, immigration, and employment rights. NCLR specifically presented workshops on employment, housing, and benefits for transgender elders.
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Gender and Sexuality Alliance v. Spearman
NCLR and co-counsel filed a federal lawsuit challenging a South Carolina statute that prohibits public school health education from including any discussion of same-sex relationships except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases. The district court entered a consent decree and judgment declaring the challenged provision unconstitutional and barring its enforcement in South Carolina.
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Parties Settle Landmark Lawsuit by Transgender Employee Who Was Unlawfully Denied Medically Necessary Care
Cases & Advocacy
Edmo v. Idaho Department of Correction
- Racial & Economic Justice
- Racial & Economic Justice > Criminalization & Incarceration
- Discrimination
- Discrimination > Healthcare
NCLR, along with co-counsel Rifkin Law Office, Hadsell Stormer & Renick LLP, and Ferguson Durham, PLLC, represents Adree Edmo, a Native American transgender woman in the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC).
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District Court Holds Public University Professor Does Not Have a Constitutional Right to Discriminate Against Transgender Students
Cases & Advocacy
Meriwether v. Shawnee State University
Jane Doe filed a Title IX complaint with Shawnee State University after Professor Meriwether refused to use female honorifics and pronouns when referring to Jane in class. When the university placed a discipline letter in his personnel file, Meriwether sued the university claiming that the disciplinary action infringed on his First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion, among other violations of federal and state law.
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Ketcham v. Regence Bluecross Blueshield of Oregon
- Racial & Economic Justice
- Racial & Economic Justice > Rural communities
- Discrimination
- Discrimination > Employment
- Discrimination > Healthcare
Christina Ketcham is a 60-year-old transgender woman who started her transition over four years ago and continues to experience significant distress from the incongruence between her typically masculine facial features and her identity as a woman. To alleviate that distress, Christina’s treating healthcare providers determined that certain facial feminization procedures are medically necessary to treat her gender dysphoria. But, the health insurance offered by her employer has a categorical exclusion for all facial feminization procedures.
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Vlaming v. West Point School Board
John Doe is a transgender student at West Point High School. Despite repeated requests, John’s French teacher, Peter Vlaming, refused to use male pronouns when referring to John. Vlaming was fired in December 2018 and subsequently sued the West Point School Board for allegedly violating his constitutional right to free speech and free excerise of religion, among other claims.
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Equality Florida, Impact Fund, NCLR Lead Civil Rights Groups Brief in Florida Appeals Court Fight to Protect Local Human Rights Ordinances
Cases & Advocacy
O C Food & Beverage, LLC v. Orange County Amicus
On December 16, 2019, Equality Florida, Impact Fund, and NCLR led a coalition of Florida civil rights groups and nonprofit organizations in filing an amicus brief urging Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal to reverse a trial court ruling invalidating Orange County’s Human Rights Ordinance (HRO).
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