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
West Virginia
Dec 2006
![Estate of Claude Green v. Robert Bowman](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Estate of Claude Green v. Robert Bowman
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![Estate of Claude Green v. Robert Bowman](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
West Virginia
LGBTQ Rights
HIV
Estate of Claude Green v. Robert Bowman
Dec 2006
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Southern California
Nov 2006
![Paramo v. Kern High School District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Paramo v. Kern High School District
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![Paramo v. Kern High School District](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Southern California
LGBTQ Rights
Paramo v. Kern High School District
Nov 2006
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Northern California
Jun 2006
![Hawai'i - R.G., et al. v. Koller, et al.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Hawai'i - R.G., et al. v. Koller, et al.
The ACLU of Hawai'i and the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Rights Project represented three young people — a 17-year-old male-to-female transgender girl, an 18-year-old lesbian, and an 18-year-old boy perceived to be gay — in a federal civil rights lawsuit against Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF), the state's juvenile correctional facility. The plaintiffs said they were abused and harassed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity while at HYCF. The ACLU asked for a preliminary injunction to force HYCF to establish policies, procedures, and training to prevent further abuse of LGBT wards.
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![Hawai'i - R.G., et al. v. Koller, et al.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Northern California
LGBTQ Rights
Hawai'i - R.G., et al. v. Koller, et al.
The ACLU of Hawai'i and the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Rights Project represented three young people — a 17-year-old male-to-female transgender girl, an 18-year-old lesbian, and an 18-year-old boy perceived to be gay — in a federal civil rights lawsuit against Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility (HYCF), the state's juvenile correctional facility. The plaintiffs said they were abused and harassed because of their sexual orientation and gender identity while at HYCF. The ACLU asked for a preliminary injunction to force HYCF to establish policies, procedures, and training to prevent further abuse of LGBT wards.
Jun 2006
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Jun 2006
![Johnston v. MO Dept. of Social Services](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Johnston v. MO Dept. of Social Services
The Missouri Department of Social Services turned down Lisa Johnston's application to become a foster parent because she's a lesbian.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Johnston v. MO Dept. of Social Services](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
LGBTQ Rights
Johnston v. MO Dept. of Social Services
The Missouri Department of Social Services turned down Lisa Johnston's application to become a foster parent because she's a lesbian.
Jun 2006
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Northern California
Mar 2006
![Exodus Parody](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/asset_upload_file143_24716.gif)
Exodus Parody
After Justin Watt posted this parody of an Exodus International billboard for “reparative therapy” on his Web site, he received a cease-and-desist letter from an anti-gay legal organization.
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![Exodus Parody](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/asset_upload_file143_24716.gif)
Northern California
LGBTQ Rights
Exodus Parody
After Justin Watt posted this parody of an Exodus International billboard for “reparative therapy” on his Web site, he received a cease-and-desist letter from an anti-gay legal organization.
Mar 2006
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