This Pride Month marks ten years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges brought the freedom to marry to same-sex couples nationwide. The front pages that summer were filled with jubilant scenes of couples taking their vows and banners waving in celebration on courthouse steps. On June 26, 2015—decision day—the White […]

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 […]

WASHINGTON, DC –. Today in a 6-3 ruling, the United States Supreme Court reversed decades of precedent permitting universities to adopt holistic admissions programs that include consideration of a  student’s race along with other factors. In an opinion authored by Chief Justice Roberts, the Court held that any consideration of race in admission programs violates […]

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, […]

High Court Intervenes to Correct Grave Errors of Lower Federal Courts WASHINGTON, DC – Today the U.S. Supreme Court took appropriate action and stayed the outrageous opinion issued two weeks ago by U.S. District Judge Mathew Kacsmaryk that purported to invalidate the FDA’s approval of Mifepristone, one of two drugs used as part of the most common […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of the Ninth Circuit’s 2021 ruling that allowed for the public release of the video recording of the federal trial challenging Proposition 8 – the 2009 ballot initiative that reversed the California Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision by amending the California Constitution to permit discrimination against […]

LGBTQ organizations’ friend-of-the-court brief warns the “free speech exemption” sought by petitioners in 303 Creative v. Elenis would undermine the bedrock protections that public accommodations laws have long provided against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, and more in the marketplace  WASHINGTON – LGBTQ civil and legal rights advocates today filed […]

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 […]

“The Supreme Court has lost the public’s confidence in its integrity and has eroded its own legitimacy.” WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), Lambda Legal, and the Transgender Law Center (TLC), issued a call for immediate, essential reforms of the U.S. Supreme Court, including […]

Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Reveals High Court Has Abandoned Individual Rights WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a 6-3 ruling, the United States Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not protect the fundamental right to abortion, overruling the landmark decisions Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. “It is impossible […]

National Center for Lesbian Rights Spearheads Joint Call for Action WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights released an open letter signed by 91 organizations representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community voicing their strong support for the right to abortion. Channeling the outrage and alarm being felt […]

We will not sugarcoat this: the leak this week of a Supreme Court majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, a ruling that would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, is extremely alarming.  It is also a wake-up call.  While we do not know if the leaked opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will […]

Historic Appointment Brings Needed Diversity to Nation’s Highest Court  WASHINGTON, DC – Today, by a bipartisan vote of 53-47, the United States Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as an Associate Justice on the United State Supreme Court. She will take her place on the bench following the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer […]

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – NCLR applauds the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, currently serving on the D.C. Circuit, to replace Justice Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Jackson’s nomination is historic for many reasons, including that she will be the first Supreme Court justice who previously served as a public defender.  “Judge Jackson […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire. Justice Breyer, who was appointed by President Clinton in 1994, has been a consistent supporter of women’s rights, reproductive freedoms, voter protections, and LGBTQ equality. His retirement gives President Biden a historic opportunity to name a pro-equality successor […]

CONTACTS:Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Communications Director415.365.1337 | cvasquez@nclrights.org “Today’s action by the United States Senate is an affront to the American people and a threat to the credibility and integrity of the Supreme Court.” SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today, the United States Senate voted along party lines to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to a lifetime appointment […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 13, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to review a federal court decision ordering the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) to provide medically necessary gender confirmation surgery to Adree Edmo, a transgender woman. As a result, the judgment that the United States Constitution requires the State to […]

You have been by our side for a long time, through moments of thrilling victory and through many moments of peril and uncertainty as well.   We know you look to us to do our research, be one step ahead of our foes, and be ready to pivot and fight until we win the rights […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 26, 2020 CONTACTS:Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Communications Director415.365.1337 | cvasquez@nclrights.org SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today, President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to replace Justice Ginsburg, only days after Justice Ginsburg’s death and before her burial at Arlington National Cemetery next week.  After the death of Justice Scalia in 2016, […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 18, 2020 CONTACTS:Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Communications Director415.365.1337 | cvasquez@nclrights.org “We will celebrate her life and grieve her loss. But above all, we will honor her legacy by continuing her fight.” SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) mourns the tragic loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – a true […]