The ACLU
The American Civil Liberties Union is headquartered in New York City and coordinates with independent affiliate offices in 47 states and the District of Columbia (California has three affiliates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego/Imperial Counties). The national office maintains chapters in North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Puerto Rico. Most of the direct legal, legislative and public education work is handled by the affiliates. As experts in their own backyards, this report illustrates the breadth of affiliates’ efforts in lobbying, litigating and advocating on behalf of the LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues.
The affiliates and the national ACLU share the same commitment to defend the basic rights guaranteed to all by the federal constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. National staff members consult with affiliates in setting priorities and developing strategies, managing cases and campaigns, and taking the lead on important national lawsuits. The state affiliates are linked to the national by electing the governing board of the national ACLU and sharing financial support with headquarters. People who join the national ACLU automatically become members of a state affiliate. Donations are shared between the local affiliate and national.
Your Support
The LGBT & AIDS Project works in your state and across the country, and we rely on you to ensure our success. If you would like to contribute, please send a check to:
ACLU Foundation – LGBT
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
212-549-2627
aclu.org/lgbtdonate
The Project
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & AIDS Project is part of the ACLU’s Legal Department. Our staff are specialists in constitutional law and civil rights who undertake impact litigation to change the law, advocacy to improve public policy, and outreach to move public opinion on the rights of LGBT people and persons living with HIV and AIDS. Nine staff lawyers monitor legal work regionally. The public education team ensures that our litigation informs and impacts the general public, and the development team helps raise the necessary funds to make our work possible. A federal legislation director manages relevant bills and lobbying in Washington, D.C. The senior strategist coordinates long range development and public education plans.
Five affiliates (Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Northern California and Tennessee) have staff and attorneys focused on LGBT rights, and several others have activist member/volunteer groups working on LGBT rights and AIDS concerns (Delaware, Eastern Missouri, Kansas and Western Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Southern and Northern California and Washington).
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.