Legislation & Policy
California Assembly Bill 2119
NCLR co-sponsored AB 2119, a bill to give California foster youth the right to access gender affirming health and behavioral health care. The legislation, which amended the Foster Care Bill of Rights, was the first of its kind in the nation and ensures that transgender youth receive health care consistent with national standards of care. Governor Brown signed the bill in September 2018, and the California Department of Social Services issued guidance in May 2019.
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Title 15 regulations
NCLR served on a workgroup to revise the Title 15 regulations, which govern county-run youth detention facilities, ranches and camps in California. Convened by the Board of State and Community Corrections, the process included input from probation officials, youth advocates and community-based organizations serving currently and formerly incarcerated youth. This inclusive process resulted in several new protections for youth, including LGBTQ youth. NCLR worked with other advocates to create a resource that clearly spelled out new rights for youth in custody.
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TGNC Youth in Confinement Facilities
NCLR received support from the National Prison Rape Elimination Act Resource Center (PRC) to develop a model policy for confinement facilities housing transgender, gender nonconforming and intersex youth. NCLR and the Center for Children’s Law and Policy worked with a diverse group of youth justice stakeholders, including advocates for TGNCI communities, formerly incarcerated young people, facility personnel, and youth justice practitioners from across the country. Together, we produced the model policy which was published by the PRC. Based on the policy, NCLR and the National Juvenile Defender Center created a checklist for juvenile defenders to help juvenile defenders advocate for the safety and well-being of TGNCI youth in secure and non-secure facilities.
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VICTORY: South Carolina Court Strikes Outdated Anti-LGBTQ Curriculum Law as Unconstitutional
Cases & Advocacy
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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LGBTQ Advocates and South Carolina Youth File Lawsuit Challenging State’s Anti-LGBTQ Curriculum Law
Press & Media
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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Juvenile Law Center Awards National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Youth Policy Project Director Shannan Wilber its Prestigious 2020 Leadership Prize
Cases & Advocacy
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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