Lambda Legal

🚨 Today, just before students head back to school, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit sent a lawsuit challenging Iowa's harmful law, SF 496, back to a lower court for reconsideration in light of a recent United States Supreme Court decision. This means the law—including the book ban and "don't say LGBTQ" provisions—will go into effect while the district court reconsiders the law's constitutionality. While we’re deeply frustrated by this delay, we are heartened by the Eighth Circuit’s rejection of the State’s most dangerous arguments and its recognition of the harm already done to LGBTQ+ students. Schools should be safe havens that protect all students—including LGBTQ+ students—so they can learn and thrive in an affirming environment. Lambda Legal has fought for and won protections for students in the past, and we won’t stop fighting until everyone has the legal protection to be and SAY who they are. Read our joint statement at https://lnkd.in/e_4nhVEu. #ProtectLGBTQYouth #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ

Listen to Kayden, Tyler, Jaxsyn, Shawn, and Gina describe their experiences as trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse youth in out-of-home systems navigating their individual social and medical transitions. While they faced varying levels of support and access, one thing was clear: the systems meant to protect and support them often fell short. Their experiences highlight the significant gaps and the unique needs of TGND young people that are frequently overlooked. That’s why we, along with our partners at Children's Rights, the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Unicorn Solutions, created Safe Havens II. This upcoming report exposes the troubling lack of laws and policies to support LGBTQ+ youth in today’s fraught environment and includes recommendations and insights from seven young adult contributors with lived experience in child welfare, juvenile legal, and homelessness systems. Visit safehavensreport.org to hear more from our youth contributors — and stay tuned for the launch of Safe Havens II happening next week! #SafeHavens #ProtectTransYouth #SystemAccountability #TransRights #EqualityForAll #LGBTQYouth #YouthAdvocacy #PolicyChange #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice

🛑 Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is never acceptable. For more information about legal protections, or help accessing local resources, please contact Lambda Legal's Help Desk by visiting our website. We’re here. https://lnkd.in/eNKH37Jp ***Please note that our Help Desk cannot provide legal advice, does not establish an attorney-client relationship, nor assist with emergencies or time-sensitive requests. Check out the list of LGBTQ+ focused crisis hotlines on our website if you need crisis counseling. #LambdaLegal #HelpDesk #AntiDiscrimination #LGBTQ #Equality

It’s always a pleasure for Lambda Legal to be a part of the largest LGBTQ+ legal conference in the country, Lavender Law. Several members of our team will be featured speakers and moderators for sessions, sharing their expertise and experiences in the field. We were thrilled to welcome folks tonight to a reception at the offices of Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, D.C., and we look forward to connecting with new and old friends in the days to come! 🤝💼 #LavenderLaw #WashingtonDC #LambdaLegal https://lnkd.in/evJz9YRr

After successful runs in New York City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago, our collaborative exhibit with the American LGBTQ+ Museum, Queer Justice, is coming to Resource Center in Dallas, Texas, from September 6 - October 7! Join us on Friday, Sept. 6, for a grand opening mixer from  6:00 to 8:30 p.m. CT at Resource Center, where we invite you to mingle with community members while enjoying light bites, margaritas, beer, wine, and nonalcoholic drinks. The opening celebration will continue on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum with a symposium of panels featuring lawyers, experts, and activists speaking on the past, present, and future of LGBTQ+ rights and protections. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today to ensure that you’re able to be a part of the festivities ➡️ queerjustice.info/programs #QueerJusticeExhibit #QueerJustice #QueerHistory #LGBTQHistory #LGBTQMuseum #LGBTQActivism #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #Equality #Museum #CivilRights #LGBTQIA

After decades of organizing, protesting, arrest, and state-sanctioned bloodshed, the Civil Rights Movement secured for all Americans the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a federal law designed to make more real the Constitution’s promise that every single citizen has equal access to and an equal voice at the polls. 🗳️👏🏽 However, 59 years after becoming law, the VRA is now weakened. In recent years, the Supreme Court has chipped away at its efficacy leaving millions of Americans — in particular BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, and people living with disabilities — extremely vulnerable to voter suppression. Today, as we mark the anniversary of this pivotal legislation, we urge you to take action: ☎️Contact your local representatives and demand they pass the For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which restore the VRA itself. 🗳️Head to vote.org to make sure you’re registered to vote and have a voting plan in place for this November. We cannot afford to watch our constitutional right to vote be dismantled right in front of us. #VotingRights #RestoreVRA #EndVoterSuppression #GOTV #Vote

#ICYMI: Our book “Making the Case for Equality: 50 Years of Legal Milestones in LGBTQ History” is NOW AVAILABLE to purchase for preorder on both Phaidon.com and Amazon — and it will ship globally this October. 📕🌈 This special book chronicles dozens of landmark legal cases, from 1973 to 2023, that drove transformative change from courtrooms to living rooms for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV nationwide. Alongside these game-changing legal cases you’ll find a unique look into our archives and a window into our 50+ years advocating for the free and equal lives of our communities. Be sure to get your copy of this important reminder of the vision of those who came before, those who fight today and all who want a better tomorrow—a celebration of Lambda Legal’s Unprecedented Past and Unstoppable Future. Head to phaidon.com/LambdaLegal or the link in our bio place your preorder now! #LambdaLegalBook #LambdaLegal #LGBTQ #LGBTQEquality #Equality #UnprecedentedPast #UnstoppableFuture #Book #LGBTQRights

Who’s been watching the Olympics? 🥇The 2024 Paris Games have welcomed the most openly LGBTQ+ athletes ever, and they’ve kept us on the edges of our seats as we watch them soar. Sports bring us all together in a special way. But we know there’s a lot of work still to do so that athletes of all kinds are able to thrive as their full selves. There are only a few out transgender and nonbinary athletes at this year’s Olympics, and none of them are trans women. Discrimination and outdated policies keep too many LGBTQ+ athletes from competing. And as we’ve seen in recent days, as folks have cheered for boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting, transphobia harms us all. We have to keep pushing for a world where, from the school playgrounds to the Olympic podium, everyone has a chance to participate and thrive. #Olympics #ParisOlympics #Paris #Paris2024 #Sports #Inclusion

Today, we remember and honor trailblazing writer, activist, and visionary, James Baldwin on what would have been his 100th birthday. James Baldwin's profound insights and unwavering commitment to social justice continue to inspire generations and ring true today. "Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity and fear,” wrote Baldwin. From his gripping novels like "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "Another Country" to his groundbreaking essays like "Notes of a Native Son" and "The Fire Next Time," Baldwin unapologetically dissected the true essence of racism, homophobia, and societal inequality. #HappyBirthday #JamesBaldwin #LambdaLegal

Congratulations to our fearless board chair, Michelle Riley!  In case you missed the wonderful news, Michelle has been recognized as an In-House Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion award winner by the Corporate Counsel Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards. We’re so proud of you, Michelle, and so lucky to have you on the Lambda team! 🌠💙 https://lnkd.in/evXJAjW2