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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177 LGBTQ Rights Cases
Sep 2015
![Waters v. Ricketts - Freedom to Marry in Nebraska](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Waters v. Ricketts - Freedom to Marry in Nebraska
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska and the law firm of Koenig | Dunne have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of seven couples who seek state recognition of their marriages or who seek the freedom to marry in Nebraska.
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![Waters v. Ricketts - Freedom to Marry in Nebraska](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Waters v. Ricketts - Freedom to Marry in Nebraska
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska and the law firm of Koenig | Dunne have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of seven couples who seek state recognition of their marriages or who seek the freedom to marry in Nebraska.
Sep 2015
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Nebraska
Aug 2015
![Stewart and Stewart v. Heineman](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Stewart and Stewart v. Heineman
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska, and the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have filed a lawsuit in state court on behalf of three couples seeking to strike down a state policy that bans gay and lesbian individuals and couples from serving as foster parents.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Stewart and Stewart v. Heineman](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Nebraska
LGBTQ Rights
Stewart and Stewart v. Heineman
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska, and the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have filed a lawsuit in state court on behalf of three couples seeking to strike down a state policy that bans gay and lesbian individuals and couples from serving as foster parents.
Aug 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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May 2015
![Love v. Johnson](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Love v. Johnson
In May 2015, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against the Michigan Secretary of State challenging a department policy that makes it impossible for many transgender individuals to correct the gender on their driver’s licenses and state identification documents. The court recognized in its November 2015 decision denying the State's motion to dismiss that plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged a constitutionally-protected privacy interest in avoiding disclosure of their transgender status because such disclosure "poses a real threat to their 'personal security and bodily integrity.
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![Love v. Johnson](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Love v. Johnson
In May 2015, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit against the Michigan Secretary of State challenging a department policy that makes it impossible for many transgender individuals to correct the gender on their driver’s licenses and state identification documents. The court recognized in its November 2015 decision denying the State's motion to dismiss that plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged a constitutionally-protected privacy interest in avoiding disclosure of their transgender status because such disclosure "poses a real threat to their 'personal security and bodily integrity.
May 2015
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Mar 2015
![Greg Bourke and Michael DeLeon with their two children.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/Greg_Michael-2-Blog-FINAL-600x400.jpg)
Freedom to Marry at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has consolidated six cases from four states on the issue of marriage equality. The ACLU represents clients in Kentucky and Ohio.
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![Greg Bourke and Michael DeLeon with their two children.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/Greg_Michael-2-Blog-FINAL-600x400.jpg)
LGBTQ Rights
Freedom to Marry at the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has consolidated six cases from four states on the issue of marriage equality. The ACLU represents clients in Kentucky and Ohio.
Mar 2015
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Feb 2015
![Mooneyham v. Ozark Fire Protection District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Mooneyham v. Ozark Fire Protection District
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Missouri have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Andrea "Andi" Mooneyham against the Ozark Fire Protection District.
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![Mooneyham v. Ozark Fire Protection District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Mooneyham v. Ozark Fire Protection District
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Missouri have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Andrea "Andi" Mooneyham against the Ozark Fire Protection District.
Feb 2015
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