LGBTQ Rights
Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Florida v. Raymond Rodrigues
The University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit on November 16, 2023, challenging the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida’s order to state universities to deactivate the student group. This order threatens the students’ constitutionally-protected right to free speech and association in violation of the First Amendment. The ACLU and its partners are seeking a preliminary injunction that would bar the Chancellor and the University of Florida from deactivating the UF SJP.
Status: Ongoing
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Maryland
Nov 2023
![Tamer Mahmoud v. Monifa McKnight](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Tamer Mahmoud v. Monifa McKnight
On October 30, 2023, the ACLU and ACLU of Maryland filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit supporting the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in its efforts to ensure that its English curriculum is LGBTQ-inclusive.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2020
![Aimee Stephens in front of the Supreme Court](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB19-Aimee-Stephens-SCOTUS-1110x740-600x400.jpg)
R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v EEOC & Aimee Stephens
Aimee Stephens had worked for nearly six years as a funeral director at R.G. and G.R. Harris Funeral Homes when she informed the funeral home’s owner that she is a transgender woman. She was fired, the EEOC sued on her behalf, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Aimee’s employer engaged in unlawful sex discrimination when it fired her because she’s transgender. We represented Aimee Stephens in front of the U.S. Supreme Court — and won.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2019
![Don Zarda, Melissa Zarda, Bill Moore](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB19-Don-Zarda-Melissa-Zarda-Bill-Moore-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda
Don Zarda loved to skydive. He worked as a skydiving instructor at Altitude Express, a company on Long Island, N.Y. He was fired for being gay.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2018
![David Mullins and Charlie Craig](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB18-charlie-david-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2015
![Jim Obergefell](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/LIB15-Obergefell-BannerImage-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Obergefell, et al. v. Hodges - Freedom to Marry in Ohio
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Ohio and Alphonse Gerhardstein of Gerhardstein & Branch have filed suit on behalf of Jim Obergefell and David Michener, two widowers, and Robert Grunn, a funeral director, in a challenge to the Ohio constitutional and statutory marriage recognition bans.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2015
![Bourke Family](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/LIB15-BourkeVBeshear-BannerImage-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Bourke v. Beshear & Love v. Beshear - Freedom to Marry in Kentucky
Bourke v. Beshear is a federal court challenge to Kentucky's constitutional ban on marriage for same-sex couples, filed by attorneys at Clay Daniel Walton & Adams and Fauver Law Office on July 26, 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The plaintiffs are four same-sex couples seeking state recognition of their out-of-state marriages.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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All Cases
177 LGBTQ Rights Cases
Minnesota
Oct 2016
![Privacy Matters v. U.S. Department of Education](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Privacy Matters v. U.S. Department of Education
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Minnesota, and Stinson Leonard Street LLP filed a motion to intervene on behalf of a transgender student in a lawsuit that seeks to bar trans students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. This case is similar to lawsuits filed around the country that are trying to prevent transgender students from using the locker rooms and restrooms that match their gender identity.
Status: Closed (Voluntarily Dismissed)
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![Privacy Matters v. U.S. Department of Education](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Minnesota
LGBTQ Rights
Privacy Matters v. U.S. Department of Education
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Minnesota, and Stinson Leonard Street LLP filed a motion to intervene on behalf of a transgender student in a lawsuit that seeks to bar trans students from using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. This case is similar to lawsuits filed around the country that are trying to prevent transgender students from using the locker rooms and restrooms that match their gender identity.
Oct 2016
Status: Closed (Voluntarily Dismissed)
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Texas
Aug 2016
![Texas v. U.S.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Texas v. U.S.
Five leading national civil and LGBT rights organizations filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Federal Government issued guidance regarding public school districts’ responsibility to allow transgender students to use the same restrooms as other students.
Status: Closed
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![Texas v. U.S.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Texas
LGBTQ Rights
Texas v. U.S.
Five leading national civil and LGBT rights organizations filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief in a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Federal Government issued guidance regarding public school districts’ responsibility to allow transgender students to use the same restrooms as other students.
Aug 2016
Status: Closed
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Illinois
Jul 2016
![Students and Parents for Privacy v. U.S. Department of Education (Township District 211)](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Students and Parents for Privacy v. U.S. Department of Education (Township District 211)
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, and Mayer Brown LLP filed a motion to intervene on behalf of Students A, B, and C, through their Parents and Legal Guardians, and the Illinois Safe School Alliance. The intervention comes after an effort to reverse an agreement reached between suburban Chicago High School District 211 and the U.S. Department of Education after a complaint filed by Student A, a female student in the District, resulted in her being permitted to use the locker room consistent with her gender identity. The lawsuit, filed by District 211 community members labeling themselves as Students and Parents for Privacy, seeks to block Student A and other transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with their gender identity.
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![Students and Parents for Privacy v. U.S. Department of Education (Township District 211)](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Illinois
LGBTQ Rights
Students and Parents for Privacy v. U.S. Department of Education (Township District 211)
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, and Mayer Brown LLP filed a motion to intervene on behalf of Students A, B, and C, through their Parents and Legal Guardians, and the Illinois Safe School Alliance. The intervention comes after an effort to reverse an agreement reached between suburban Chicago High School District 211 and the U.S. Department of Education after a complaint filed by Student A, a female student in the District, resulted in her being permitted to use the locker room consistent with her gender identity. The lawsuit, filed by District 211 community members labeling themselves as Students and Parents for Privacy, seeks to block Student A and other transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with their gender identity.
Jul 2016
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Jun 2016
![Meagan Taylor](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/Web15-meagantaylor-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Iowa Civil Rights Commission Complaint on Behalf of Meagan Taylor
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Iowa filed a complaint today with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission against The Drury Inn for discriminating against a Black transgender woman based on her gender identity and race in July 2015.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Meagan Taylor](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/Web15-meagantaylor-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
LGBTQ Rights
Racial Justice
Iowa Civil Rights Commission Complaint on Behalf of Meagan Taylor
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Iowa filed a complaint today with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission against The Drury Inn for discriminating against a Black transgender woman based on her gender identity and race in July 2015.
Jun 2016
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Northern California
Jun 2016
![Joe Robinson and Melissa Mayo](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB16-dignityhealth-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Robinson v. Dignity Health
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against the fifth largest health care system in the U.S., Dignity Health, because it denies transgender employees health insurance coverage for medically necessary transition-related health care.
Status: Closed (Voluntarily Dismissed)
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![Joe Robinson and Melissa Mayo](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB16-dignityhealth-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Northern California
LGBTQ Rights
Robinson v. Dignity Health
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against the fifth largest health care system in the U.S., Dignity Health, because it denies transgender employees health insurance coverage for medically necessary transition-related health care.
Jun 2016
Status: Closed (Voluntarily Dismissed)
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