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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Arkansas
Sep 2014
Dawson v. H & H Electric, Inc.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arkansas, and co-counsel John Burnett have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Patricia Dawson against her former employer, H & H Electric, for firing her after she transitioned from male to female on the job.
Status: Closed (Settled)
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Arkansas
LGBTQ Rights
Dawson v. H & H Electric, Inc.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Arkansas, and co-counsel John Burnett have filed a lawsuit on behalf of Patricia Dawson against her former employer, H & H Electric, for firing her after she transitioned from male to female on the job.
Sep 2014
Status: Closed (Settled)
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South Dakota
Sep 2014
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Filing Against Taco John's
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Dakota, and co-counsel Stephanie E. Pochop have submitted charges to state and federal agencies against Taco John's of Yankton, Inc. and Taco John's International Inc. The discrimination charges were filed on behalf of Tyler Brandt, a 16-year-old employee who was forced to wear a "Gaytard" name tag while working.
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South Dakota
LGBTQ Rights
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Filing Against Taco John's
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of South Dakota, and co-counsel Stephanie E. Pochop have submitted charges to state and federal agencies against Taco John's of Yankton, Inc. and Taco John's International Inc. The discrimination charges were filed on behalf of Tyler Brandt, a 16-year-old employee who was forced to wear a "Gaytard" name tag while working.
Sep 2014
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Wisconsin
Sep 2014
Bloechl-Karlsen v. Walker - Freedom to Marry in Wisconsin
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the law firm of Mayer Brown have filed suit on behalf of four same-sex couples who were legally married in Wisconsin after a federal court struck down a state ban on marriage for same-sex couples, but before the judge temporarily halted marriages from taking place while the state challenged the decision. Although the marriages were valid, the state has announced that it has placed recognition of their marriages on hold indefinitely.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Wisconsin
LGBTQ Rights
Bloechl-Karlsen v. Walker - Freedom to Marry in Wisconsin
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin, and the law firm of Mayer Brown have filed suit on behalf of four same-sex couples who were legally married in Wisconsin after a federal court struck down a state ban on marriage for same-sex couples, but before the judge temporarily halted marriages from taking place while the state challenged the decision. Although the marriages were valid, the state has announced that it has placed recognition of their marriages on hold indefinitely.
Sep 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Indiana
Sep 2014
Bogan v. Baskin (Midori Fujii v. Commissioner) - Freedom to Marry in Indiana
The American Civil Liberties Union, The ACLU of Indiana, along with attorney Sean Lemieux of the Lemieux Law Office in Indianapolis, have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of 13 plaintiffs seeking the freedom marry in Indiana.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Indiana
LGBTQ Rights
Bogan v. Baskin (Midori Fujii v. Commissioner) - Freedom to Marry in Indiana
The American Civil Liberties Union, The ACLU of Indiana, along with attorney Sean Lemieux of the Lemieux Law Office in Indianapolis, have filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of 13 plaintiffs seeking the freedom marry in Indiana.
Sep 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Michigan
Jul 2014
Caspar v. Snyder - Freedom to Marry in Michigan
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit today to guarantee that the marriages of 300 same-sex couples performed in Michigan in March 2014 are recognized by the state. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight same-sex couples who were married after a federal judge struck down the state's ban and before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals put the decision on hold.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Michigan
LGBTQ Rights
Caspar v. Snyder - Freedom to Marry in Michigan
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Michigan filed a lawsuit today to guarantee that the marriages of 300 same-sex couples performed in Michigan in March 2014 are recognized by the state. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight same-sex couples who were married after a federal judge struck down the state's ban and before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals put the decision on hold.
Jul 2014
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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