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The LGBT Project brings impact lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country— cases designed to have a significant effect on the lives of LGBT people. > > Learn More > Legal Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Proposition 8, Should It Pass > California Will Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Married Before the Possible Passage of Prop. 8 The LGBT Project fights discrimination and moves public opinion on LGBT rights through the courts, legislatures and public education across five issue areas: RELATIONSHIPS – Since the first marriage lawsuit for same-sex couples in 1972, the ACLU has been at the forefront of both legal and public education efforts to secure marriage for same-sex couples and win legal recognition for LGBT relationships. SCHOOLS & YOUTH – The LGBT Project’s Schools & Youth program defends free expression in public schools, demands that learning environments do not encourage bullying and violence, and helps educators create an atmosphere respectful of students’ sexual orientation and gender identity. PARENTING – The ACLU is committed to defending the rights of LGBT parents, not only in custody and visitation arrangements but also by challenging discriminatory laws that restrict the rights of LGBT people to parent. TRANSGENDER – The ACLU works to include gender identity in nondiscrimination laws, raises awareness of the types of harms that transgender people face, and brings impact lawsuits to change biased laws against transgender people in employment, schools, and public accommodations. DISCRIMINATION – Since the 1950s, the ACLU has been defending LGBT people from discrimination. Over the years, the ACLU has fought LGBT discrimination on several fronts—from challenging “sodomy” laws to advocating for civil rights that protect LGBT people.

ACLU Commends Obama-Biden Ban on Discrimination Against LGBT Applicants for Jobs in the New Administration (11/7/2008)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union commends the Obama-Biden Transition team for including sexual orientation and gender identity in its non-discrimination policy as it prepares to assume power in January. Although President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 11478, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, there are no explicit federal protections from gender identity bias in government hiring.

ACLU Urges Inclusion For All Types Of Families (11/6/2008)
NEW ORLEANS – Today the ACLU of Louisiana urged the newly-appointed Governor's Commission on Marriage and the Family to remain aware of the needs of all of Louisiana's families, regardless of religion, marital status, and including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered status. In an open letter to the Commissioners, the ACLU said: "We urge you to keep in mind that the strength of Louisiana lies in our diversity, and that none of us can make the most personal family choices for another. In the end, every family, no matter how constituted or what it looks like, is just as important and deserves just as much support as every other."

ACLU of Florida Statement on Amendment 2 (11/5/2008)
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today released the following statement, which can be attributed to Howard L. Simon, Ph.D, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida:

California Will Continue to Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Who Married Before the Possible Passage of brProp 8 (11/5/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Attorney General, Equality California, and the nation's leading LGBT legal groups agree that the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who married between June 16, 2008 and the possible passage of Proposition 8 are still valid in the state of California and must continue to be honored by the state.

Legal Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Proposition 8, Should It Pass (11/5/2008)
SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a writ petition before the California Supreme Court today urging the court to invalidate Proposition 8 if it passes. The petition charges that Proposition 8 is invalid because the initiative process was improperly used in an attempt to undo the constitution's core commitment to equality for everyone by eliminating a fundamental right from just one group – lesbian and gay Californians. Proposition 8 also improperly attempts to prevent the courts from exercising their essential constitutional role of protecting the equal protection rights of minorities. According to the California Constitution, such radical changes to the organizing principles of state government cannot be made by simple majority vote through the initiative process, but instead must, at a minimum, go through the state legislature first.

Florida's Healthcare Professionals Say NO to Amendment 2 (10/31/2008)
MIAMI – Sixty leading Florida health care professionals today issued a statement urging Floridians to vote "No" on proposed Amendment 2.

Florida Student Who Won ACLU Lawsuit Wins Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Award (10/21/2008)
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that Heather Gillman has been selected by the Playboy Foundation to receive the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award for "her fearlessness in speaking out on behalf of the rights of gay students" at Ponce de Leon High School, located in Florida's Panhandle.

Lesbian And Gay Couples Win Freedom To Marry In Connecticut (10/10/2008)
HARTFORD, CT – The Connecticut Supreme Court today ruled that barring same-sex couples from marriage violates that state's constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union, which was co-counsel in the case along with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, applauded the decision.

MCLU Applauds Freedom to Marry Victory in Connecticut (10/10/2008)
PORTLAND - Today, the Connecticut Supreme Court struck down Connecticut's restriction on marriage by same-sex couples. The American Civil Liberties Union, which was co-counsel in the case along with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, applauded the decision in Kerrigan & Mock et al v. Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Montana District Court Affirms Parenting Rights (9/29/2008)
Missoula, MT – Montana District Court Judge Ed McLean today released his long-awaited decision in the Kulstad v. Maniaci case. The court recognized Michelle Kulstad as a parent to the two children she raised together with Barbara Maniaci, granting Kulstad time with her children and ordering that Kulstad have joint decision-making authority for matters significantly affecting the children, including their “education, activities, health care and spiritual upbringing.”

Transgender Veteran Wins Sex Discrimination Lawsuit Against Library of Congress (9/19/2008)
WASHINGTON - Today a federal judge ruled that the Library of Congress illegally discriminated against a Special Forces veteran when she was denied a job after announcing her intention to transition from male to female. In a groundbreaking decision, the court ruled that discriminating against someone for changing genders is sex discrimination under federal law.

Gay Customers Called Faggots By Kentucky McDonald's Staff (9/16/2008)
LOUISVILLE, KY -- After an employee at a McDonald's restaurant in downtown Louisville called a group of gay customers a series of anti-gay slurs, the American Civil Liberties Union is representing two of the customers in filing an official complaint with the city. Louisville law bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Osseo, MN School Must Treat Gay Student Club Equally (8/29/2008)
MINNEAPOLIS – Finding that school officials violated federal law in limiting access for a gay rights club, a federal appeals court today issued a permanent injunction that orders Osseo Area Schools to let the club have the same access to school facilities and resources as all other clubs. The ruling came as the result of a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota today on behalf of Straights and Gays for Equality (SAGE), a student club at Maple Grove High School.

ACLU Calls On Governor Jindal To Renew Employment Protections (8/25/2008)
NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has stated his intention to end the state's policy of prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and political beliefs in state employment and contracting. By doing so, he will strip lesbians and gay men from civil rights protections that have been in effect since 2004, and will also deprive state employees of protection on the basis of political beliefs. The ACLU of Louisiana calls on Gov. Bobby Jindal to protect the employment rights of Louisianans by renewing Executive Order 2004-54, signed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

Virginia Court Affirms Vermont's Jurisdiction in Same-Sex Couple's Interstate Custody Dispute (8/22/2008)
Frederick County, VA – A state circuit court judge has rejected yet another attempt to overturn a Vermont custody order giving child visitation rights to a lesbian parent from a now-dissolved civil union.