Home : Lesbian & Gay Rights : General

House Hears Testimony On Landmark Employment Non-Discrimination Act (09/23/2009)
WASHINGTON – The House Education and Labor Committee heard testimony today on H.R. 3017, a bill that would finally end workplace discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. There is also a version of that bill, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), pending in the Senate. Currently, it remains legal to fire or refuse to hire someone for being lesbian, gay or bisexual in 29 states, while transgender workers can be denied or refused jobs in 38 states. If passed, ENDA would become the first-ever federal ban on employment discrimination of LBGT people in most workplaces.

Legislation Introduced To Repeal Discriminatory Defense Of Marriage Act (09/15/2009)
WASHINGTON - A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives today that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and respect state marriages by providing federal protections for married same-sex couples. DOMA, passed in 1996, authorized discrimination against lawfully married same-sex couples. Today's bill, the Respect for Marriage Act, was introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and several others.

American Civil Liberties Union Mourns Senator Edward Kennedy (08/26/2009)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today mourned the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) who succumbed to brain cancer Tuesday night.

Bill Introduced In Senate Today To Ban Workplace Discrimination Based On Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation (08/05/2009)
WASHINGTON – A bill was introduced in the Senate today that would make workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), would become the first-ever federal ban on employment discrimination of LBGT people in most workplaces.

Immigration Law Denies Equal Protection For Same-Sex Life Partners (06/02/2009)
WASHINGTON – The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on a bill that modifies U.S. immigration law to provide equal protection to same-sex life partners of citizens and permanent legal residents. As part of the hearing, entitled “The United American Families Act: Addressing Inequality in Federal Immigration Law,” the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to lawmakers urging the Committee to pass S. 424, “Uniting American Families Act.”

Annual Update 2009 - Staff (07/20/2009)

Annual Update - 2007 (07/02/2007)
The Annual Update of the ACLU's Nationwide Work on LGBT Rights and HIV/AIDS

Annual Update - 2006 (08/28/2006)
The Annual Update of the ACLU's Nationwide Work on LGBT Rights and HIV/AIDS

LGBT & AIDS Project brochure (05/09/2006)

LGBT & AIDS Project brochure (05/09/2006)

ACLU Letter Urging Kansas Public Library Not to Censor Employee for Discussing Historic Sodomy Ruling (07/16/2003)

Complaint in PFLAG, et al. v. City of Honolulu, et al. (06/30/2003)

ACLU Brief in Lawrence, et al v. Texas (06/26/2003)

Brief in Snetsinger, et al v. Montana University System, et al (06/02/2003)

ACLU Letter to House Education and Labor Committee on ENDA and Sovereign Immunity (09/23/2009)

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Coalition Letter in Support of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (09/22/2009)

Coalition Letter to the House Urging Co-sponsorship of the Respect for Marriage Act (09/11/2009)

ACLU Letter to House of Representatives on The United American Families Act (06/02/2009)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its more than half a million members and activists and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge you to cosponsor H.R. 1024, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). H.R. 1024 Modifies U.S. Immigration Policy to Apply Equal Standards to the Permanent Partners of all Americans Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, citizens and permanent legal residents can sponsor their spouses for immigration purposes. However, because same-sex partners of U.S. citizens are not considered “spouses,” gay U.S. citizens and permanent residents are barred from sponsoring their partners. As a result, relationships and families are inevitably torn. The Uniting American Families Act helps to rectify this injustice.

ACLU Letter to Senate on The United American Families Act (06/02/2009)
On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its more than half a million members and activists and 53 affiliates nationwide, we urge you to cosponsor S. 424, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA). S. 424 Modifies U.S. Immigration Policy to Apply Equal Standards to the Permanent Partners of all Americans Under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, citizens and permanent legal residents can sponsor their spouses for immigration purposes. However, because same-sex partners of U.S. citizens are not considered “spouses,” gay U.S. citizens and permanent residents are barred from sponsoring their partners. As a result, relationships and families are inevitably

Annual Update 2009 - Parenting Docket (07/20/2009)

Annual Update 2009 - Transgender Docket (07/20/2009)

Annual Update 2009 - Schools & Youth Docket (07/20/2009)

Annual Update 2009 - Relationships Docket (07/20/2009)

Annual Update 2009 - Discrimination Docket (07/20/2009)