Home : Lesbian & Gay Rights

Federal Court Awards Transgender Veteran Maximum Compensation In Sex Discrimination Case Against Library of Congress (04/29/2009)
WASHINGTON, DC — A federal judge ruled that transgender veteran Diane Schroer is entitled to the maximum compensation for the discrimination she suffered after being refused a job with the Library of Congress. The American Civil Liberties Union brought a sex discrimination lawsuit on behalf of Schroer, a Special Forces veteran who retired after 25 years of service, when she was denied a job after announcing her intention to transition from male to female.

New Mexico Agrees To Provide Retirement Health Insurance To Domestic Partners Of State Employees (04/28/2009)
ALBUQUERQUE – In response to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, New Mexico has agreed to provide retirement health insurance to the domestic partners of state employees.

School's Homophobic Atmosphere Fostered Hate Protest, ACLU/SC Says (04/24/2009)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Corona Del Mar High School officials' initial decision to cancel the musical production of "Rent: School Edition," and their subsequent failure to address a growing atmosphere of intolerance at the school, has created a breeding ground for homophobic attitudes and has paved the way for a planned protest by a virulently anti-gay group tomorrow, ACLU/SC Staff Attorney Lori Rifkin said today.

Arizona School Agrees To Lift Rainbow Ban Following ACLU Demand Letter (04/20/2009)
PEORIA, AZ – Peoria Unified School District has assured the American Civil Liberties Union that it will no longer prevent a gay 14-year-old student from wearing a rainbow wristband at school, following an ACLU letter that demanded that the school district rescind its ban on the wristband.

ACLU of Wisconsin tells Joint Finance Committee: Budget's domestic partnership proposal constitutional – We'll help defend domestic partners (04/17/2009)
Milwaukee – Governor Jim Doyle's budget proposal to create a domestic partner registry with a limited number of benefits is constitutional. Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin wrote to the co-chairs of the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance to explain why the proposal does not violate the Wisconsin Constitution's ban on creating a legal status "substantially similar to that of marriage…." These budget provisions "are not even close to being substantially similar to marriage," wrote ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ahmuty.

ACLU of Montana Defends Parents’ and Children’s Rights (04/17/2009)
MISSOULA, MT — The Montana Supreme Court heard oral arguments today on a legal appeal that could set precedent for whether children have a right to maintain relationships with both their parents after a break-up.

ACLU Demands Tennessee Schools Stop Censoring Gay Educational Websites (04/15/2009)
NASHVILLE, TN - As many as 107 Tennessee public school districts could be illegally preventing students from accessing online information about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, according to a letter to sent to school officials by the American Civil Liberties Union. The letter demands that Knox County Schools, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and the Tennessee Schools Cooperative unblock the Internet filtering category designated “LGBT” so that students can access political and educational information about LGBT issues on school computers.

Iowa Supreme Court Grants Same-Sex Couples Right To Marry (04/03/2009)
DES MOINES, IA – A unanimous Iowa Supreme Court today ruled that the state could no longer bar same-sex couples from being able to marry. The American Civil Liberties Union, which supported the case through friend-of-the-court briefs, applauds this historic victory for fairness for lesbian and gay couples.

ACLU of Florida Applauds Victory as Gainesville Voters Reject Discriminatory Effort to Remove Gainesville’s Nondiscrimination Protections for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People (03/25/2009)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida applauds Gainesville voters’ overwhelming rejection, 58% to 42%, of an effort by anti-gay crusaders that would have repealed protections against discrimination for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in housing, employment, public accommodation, and credit extension services.