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
Kansas
Jan 2015
![Marie v. Moser - Freedom to Marry in Kansas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Marie v. Moser - Freedom to Marry in Kansas
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kansas have filed a lawsuit against district court clerks in Douglas and Sedgwick counties for their refusal to issue marriage applications to two same-sex couples, despite the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting its stay on marriage for same-sex couples.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Marie v. Moser - Freedom to Marry in Kansas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Kansas
LGBTQ Rights
Marie v. Moser - Freedom to Marry in Kansas
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kansas have filed a lawsuit against district court clerks in Douglas and Sedgwick counties for their refusal to issue marriage applications to two same-sex couples, despite the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals lifting its stay on marriage for same-sex couples.
Jan 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Florida
Jan 2015
![Grimsley and Albu v. Scott, et al. - Freedom to Marry in Florida](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Grimsley and Albu v. Scott, et al. - Freedom to Marry in Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Florida, and the Podhurst Orseck law firm have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of eight same-sex couples and SAVE, an LGBT rights organization based in Miami, challenging the state of Florida’s refusal to recognize their marriages, which were performed in other states and recognized by the federal government.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Grimsley and Albu v. Scott, et al. - Freedom to Marry in Florida](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Florida
LGBTQ Rights
Grimsley and Albu v. Scott, et al. - Freedom to Marry in Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the ACLU of Florida, and the Podhurst Orseck law firm have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of eight same-sex couples and SAVE, an LGBT rights organization based in Miami, challenging the state of Florida’s refusal to recognize their marriages, which were performed in other states and recognized by the federal government.
Jan 2015
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Dec 2014
![Lawson v. Kelly - Freedom to Marry in Missouri](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Lawson v. Kelly - Freedom to Marry in Missouri
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Missouri filed a petition in Jackson County, MO on behalf of two couples, Angela Curtis and Shannon McGinty, and Kyle Lawson and Evan Dahlgren, who wished to marry, but were denied marriage licenses because of Missouri's amendment limiting marriage to opposite sex couples. Both couples tried to get marriage licenses in Jackson County.
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![Lawson v. Kelly - Freedom to Marry in Missouri](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Lawson v. Kelly - Freedom to Marry in Missouri
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Missouri filed a petition in Jackson County, MO on behalf of two couples, Angela Curtis and Shannon McGinty, and Kyle Lawson and Evan Dahlgren, who wished to marry, but were denied marriage licenses because of Missouri's amendment limiting marriage to opposite sex couples. Both couples tried to get marriage licenses in Jackson County.
Dec 2014
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Dec 2014
![Department of Justice and Department of Education Complaint Against Virginia School Board for Transgender Bathroom Policy](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Department of Justice and Department of Education Complaint Against Virginia School Board for Transgender Bathroom Policy
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia have filed an administrative complaint with the Department of Justice and Department of Education against Gloucester County Public Schools (GCPS) for adopting a bathroom policy that segregates trans students from using the same restrooms and locker rooms as their peers. The school board adopted the policy by a vote of 6-1 on December 9, 2014, despite warnings from the ACLU that the policy violates federal law prohibiting schools from discriminating based on sex.
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![Department of Justice and Department of Education Complaint Against Virginia School Board for Transgender Bathroom Policy](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Department of Justice and Department of Education Complaint Against Virginia School Board for Transgender Bathroom Policy
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia have filed an administrative complaint with the Department of Justice and Department of Education against Gloucester County Public Schools (GCPS) for adopting a bathroom policy that segregates trans students from using the same restrooms and locker rooms as their peers. The school board adopted the policy by a vote of 6-1 on December 9, 2014, despite warnings from the ACLU that the policy violates federal law prohibiting schools from discriminating based on sex.
Dec 2014
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Michigan
Nov 2014
![Bassett et al. v. Snyder](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Bassett et al. v. Snyder
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Michigan have filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to strike down a new state law that bans many public entities from providing health care insurance to the domestic partners of their employees. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of school teachers, city and county workers and their domestic partners who will lose their health insurance as a result of the law.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Bassett et al. v. Snyder](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Michigan
LGBTQ Rights
Bassett et al. v. Snyder
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Michigan have filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to strike down a new state law that bans many public entities from providing health care insurance to the domestic partners of their employees. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of school teachers, city and county workers and their domestic partners who will lose their health insurance as a result of the law.
Nov 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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