As a non-profit legal organization dedicated to LGBT civil and human rights, NCLR works to ensure LGBT individuals enjoy full fairness, opportunity, and equality. Our work often includes civil rights advocacy related to issues beyond our identified program areas, such as freedom of speech, full and equal access to public accommodations, and as in our recent advocacy on behalf of DYKES ON BIKES, even trademark law. NCLR is committed to addressing the full range of legal issues that affect the LGBT community in all aspects of work, family, and community life.
news & opinion
Press Release
NCLR Attorney Awarded Chicana/Latina Foundation’s 2009 Emerging Leadership Award
09.21.09 — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) today announced that Chicana/Latina Foundation will honor NCLR attorney Lisa Cisneros with its 2009 Emerging Leadership Award. The Emerging Leadership Award is presented annually to young leaders committed to social justice and who have demonstrated their commitment with actions and deeds.
Press Release
National Prison Rape Elimination Commission Issues Crucial New Report
07.27.09 — Calling sexual abuse of people in government custody “totally incompatible with American values,” a bipartisan federal commission issued a landmark report on sexual abuse in U.S. correctional and detention facilities and proposed the first comprehensive blueprint to prevent abuse. Congress created the panel, called the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission, when it passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act in 2003. The law charged the Commissioners with conducting the first comprehensive review of government policies and practices relating to sexual abuse of inmates and developing “zero-tolerance” national standards to improve the detection, prevention, reduction and punishment of prison rape.
Press Release
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to "DYKES ON BIKES" Trademark
Decision Removes Last Obstacle to Registration of Trademark
01.08.08 — Today, the San Francisco Women’s Motorcycle Contingent (SFWMC) announced that the United States Supreme Court denied a petition seeking review of a U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decision affirming the group’s trademark of the name “DYKES ON BIKES.” After a four year pro bono legal battle, no further appeals are possible in this historic case and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a final registration of the trademark.
Press Release
EQCA, GSA Network File Motion to Protect Students from Discrimination, Harassment
Organizations Move to Intervene in Lawsuit that Challenges Student Civil Rights Act, California Nondiscrimination Statutes
12.21.07 — Equality California and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network are seeking to intervene in a lawsuit filed by anti-gay organizations that would prevent enforcement of California statutes protecting students from discrimination, harassment and bullying in publicly-funded schools.
from the docket
Loss (U.S. Supreme Court)
Iqbal v. Ashcroft
Pakistani national Javaid Iqbal was arrested in New York as part of a post-September 11 dragnet by federal officials that targeted Arab men, among others. The U.S. detained Iqbal, subjecting him to beatings, frequent invasive body searches, and other forms of mistreatment, and often confiscated his Koran and forbade his participation in Friday prayers. NCLR has a strong interest in ensuring that all persons receive the protections of the basic civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and is concerned about government treatment of individuals, racial/ethnic targeting, and religious freedom violations. NCLR joined an amicus brief opposing the government’s efforts to make it more difficult for civil rights plaintiffs to discover information about higher government officials who set and oversee policies that violate people’s rights.
Victory! (California)
Dykes on Bikes
NCLR, Oliver-Sabec, P.C., and Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP represented the San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent in a lengthy action to register the name "Dykes on Bikes" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Victory! (California)
Christian Legal Society v. Kane
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 Folger Levin & Kahn, LLP.
The Federal Hate Crimes bill has passed in Congress. On October 8, 2009 the House of Representatives voted on the conference report on the DoD Authorization bill, including the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment, and passed at 281–146. The Senate approved the report, 68-29, on October 22, 2009, passing the bill to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
NCLR has long supported passage of this key measure – assisting with drafting bill provisions, drawing public attention to the problem of hate violence and the need for hate crimes legislation, and providing grassroots support necessary for its passage.
proyecto poderoso | powerful project
NCLR has partnered with California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) to expand civil rights enforcement on behalf of low-income LGBT residents of rural California.
In rural communities, crosscurrents of poverty, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and immigration status have marginalized LGBT people. Low-income individuals in rural communities struggle to find affordable, local counsel with expertise in LGBT-related law.
In the face of these challenges, NCLR and CRLA have created Proyecto Poderoso—Powerful Project. Proyecto Poderoso will improve the daily lives of LGBT people in small towns and communities across California by helping them protect their rights.
click here to read more about Proyecto Poderoso