Last week, Oklahoma Representative Mauree Turner was the target of a censure motion by Republican leaders — a blatant attempt to silence the first openly non-binary U.S. state legislator. The motion passed on a party-line vote. In response, 10 major, national LGBTQ+, and social justice organizations are coming together to vehemently condemn this disturbing action. […]

Final District Court Order in Curb Records and Mike Curb Foundation’s challenge to HB 1182 ensures the anti-business “Not Welcome” sign law will never take effect January 6, 2023 (NASHVILLE) – A U.S. District Court has entered a final order prohibiting enforcement of Tennessee HB 1182, a law passed in 2021 requiring businesses to post a demeaning […]

The 2022 Champions for Justice Dinner and Party will welcome NCLR’s Executive Director Imani Rupert Gordon to her inaugural annual gala since joining the leading LGBTQ organization in 2020  SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) will join hundreds of donors, supporters, and friends on Friday, November 11, 2022, for an […]

Even as Latinx Heritage Month has come to a close, we continue to uplift Latinx voices year-round.  This month, we are spotlighting our Immigration Project Associate Pamela Mercado Garcia (she/her/ella). Pamela works with our Immigration and Asylum team. In 1994, NCLR was the first national LGBTQ organization to launch an Immigration Project. As part of […]

116 organizations signed on to a letter urging the White House and Congress to provide funding to help eradicate the MPXV outbreak and to ensure equitable access to care and vaccines WASHINGTON – This week, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) penned a letter to elected leaders calling […]

WASHINGTON, DC – The nation’s top civil rights leaders, reproductive rights and justice organizations met with Vice President Kamala Harris on September 12, 2022 to discuss the harmful impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and the ongoing threat to our democracy.  This meeting stems from a letter the organizations sent […]

On June 24, 2022, the Friday of Pride weekend for many major cities, the United States Supreme Court announced the reversal of Roe v. Wade with their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. We wanted to catch up with our Federal Policy Director Julianna S. Gonen to find out more about what this […]

People change – that’s a fact of life. My coming-out story is like many other LGBTQ individuals. My loved ones said horrible, hurtful things when I made the tough and personal decision to come out. I think about these experiences as I reflect on the recent decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court, including their […]

Gilead Will Provide up to $5 Million in Global Grant Funding to Immediately Support Public Education and Vaccine Hesitancy Communications, a Public Policy Response and a Global Outbreak Emergency Fund for Community Organizations in Regions with Active Monkeypox Outbreaks FOSTER CITY, CA – Gilead Sciences, Inc., GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Black Justice Coalition […]

Equality California, LA LGBT Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation also call for renaming virus to reduce stigma CALIFORNIA – Today, a coalition of LGBTQ+ legal and health organizations sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demanding the implementation of a more robust federal response to […]

NCLR Philanthropy Coordinator Misa Ridgway receives some gender affirmations during Pride Month! Happy Pride Month! This month, we not only celebrate the wins of the LGBTQ community as a whole, but we also want to highlight the wins achieved by queer individuals. Our very own Philanthropy Coordinator Misa Ridgway had a win of his own […]

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 […]

Sunday, May 1 is the annual celebration of International Workers’ Day – also known as May Day – which honors the struggle of workers all around the world.  While the LGBTQ movement typically focuses on nondiscrimination and healthcare insurance as issues in the workplace, the concerns of LGBTQ workers also include those not related to […]

During Lesbian Visibility Week, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund honor the lives and experiences of transgender and non-binary lesbians. We affirm that trans women are women and that trans and non-binary lesbians are a valued part of the LGBTQ community. As […]

Today, April 22, marks Earth Day, a day when we celebrate the Earth and also rally around finding solutions to climate change and environmental injustice. Started in the 1970s partly in response to Silent Spring, a book written by lesbian author and marine biologist Rachel Carson, the day has been part of a movement that […]

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 […]

As a young, trans woman, I’m very honored to be able to share this message with you today on Transgender Day of Visibility. This year more than ever it is important that we use whatever voice and presence we can muster to lift up those who need the most help and support in our community. […]

This week, NCLR announced our new Senior Youth Policy Counsel (he/she/they and prefix Mx.) and we could not be more excited that the person filling this role is our own Danielle (Danny) King!  Since our founding 45 years ago, NCLR has been at the forefront of protecting and advocating on behalf of LGBTQ youth, a […]

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, the United States Senate voted 66-31 to confirm Chantale Wong to serve as the Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADP). The historic and bipartisan vote makes Wong the first openly lesbian – and first LGBTQ person of color – confirmed to an ambassador-level role in the history of the United […]