news & opinion
Press Release
The National Center for Lesbian Rights Celebrates 33 Years of LGBT Legal Advocacy
Annual gala to be held on Saturday, May 1 at Metreon Cityview in San Francisco
02.02.10—Vicki Randle, lead singer and percussionist of the acclaimed Tonight Show Band, will be honored at the 33rd Anniversary Celebration for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Metreon Cityview. NCLR will also honor Will Phillips, the ten-year-old fifth grader from Arkansas who gained international attention for his refusal to say the United States Pledge of Allegiance at West Fork Elementary School because of its false promise of “liberty and justice for all.”
Video
Kate at Sundance
Video blog from Kate Kendell
02.01.10
Statement
NCLR Urges President Obama to Stop Defending DOMA
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
01.29.10—Today, the Department of Justice once again filed a brief defending the so called “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA) in Gill v. Office of Personnel Development, a federal lawsuit challenging Section 3 of DOMA, which excludes same-sex couples from all federal benefits and protections given to heterosexual married couples.
Statement
NCLR Demands Immediate Suspension of Discharges Until Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal
A Statement from NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell
01.28.10—Last night, in his first State of the Union address, President Barack Obama promised to work with Congress to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the discriminatory policy banning gays, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving openly in the military.
Press Release
The National Center for Lesbian Rights Applauds the Introduction of the Student Non-Discrimination Act
01.27.10—Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) applauds the introduction of the Student Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 4530), new federal legislation designed to ensure that all students have access to public education in a safe environment free from discrimination, including harassment, bullying, intimidation and violence. The Student Non-Discrimination Act would provide nationwide comprehensive prohibition of discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
case updates and program highlights
Pending (California)
Perry v. Schwarzenegger
On May 22, 2009, two same-sex couples filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, challenging California’s Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to prohibit marriage by same-sex couples.
read more about NCLR's marriage work here
read the amicus brief filed by NCLR, the ACLU, and Lambda Legal on February 3, 2010(pdf)
read faq on marriage in California (pdf)
Legislative Highlight
ENDA
The Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) is a bill to create a federal law which would prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, defined to include gender expression. It would provide critically-needed protection for people at serious risk of job discrimination. After years of hard work and thousands of conversations with law and policymakers, we are poised to pass an ENDA inclusive of gender identity in this Congress. In order to achieve that, senators and representatives must hear from their constituents that this bill is a high priority for the LGBT community. President Obama has identified passing this bill, inclusive of both sexual orientation and gender identity, as one of his civil rights agenda priorities.
read more and find out how you can get involved here
Pending (U.S. Supreme Court)
Christian Legal Society v. Martinez
Like many public schools, the University of California - Hastings College of the Law allows law students to organize student groups that can apply for university funding and other resources for group-related events. To be recognized as an official student group, all student groups must abide by Hastings' policy on nondiscrimination. In 2004, the Christian Legal Society (CLS) filed a lawsuit against Hastings, arguing that the nondiscrimination policy violated the group's First Amendment right to discriminate against LGBT and non-Christian students. NCLR represents Outlaw, the LGBT student group at Hastings, which intervened to defend the University's policy. Hastings is represented by Ethan Schulman of Crowell & Moring LLP.
Program Highlight
Elder Law Project
Planning with Purpose: Legal Basics for LGBT Elders
NCLR's new and groundbreaking guide provides basic information about areas of the law that are important to LGBT elders, especially individuals and couples who are age 55 and over, based on our advocacy experience. Written for LGBT elders and their families and caregivers, it includes information about issues related to relationship recognition, finances, health care, long term care, planning for the care of minor or disabled children, inheritance, elder abuse, and discrimination.
Over the past 30 years the National Center for Lesbian Rights has been at the forefront of nearly every legal gain won for LGBT people and families.
Each issue listed here provides a wealth of information regarding:
- cases we've been involved in
- news & opinion
- publications and downloads
Do you have legal questions related to your sexual orientation or gender identity?
The information on our website is here to help you. If you don’t find the answers to your questions on our website, NCLR's online help form can help you find the answers.
