The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

, public interest

law firm A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...

in the United States that advocates for equitable public policies affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, provides free legal assistance to LGBT clients and their legal advocates, and conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. It is headquartered in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

with a policy team in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

. It is the only organization in the United States dedicated to lesbian legal issues, and the largest national lesbian organization in terms of members. Through impact litigation, public policy advocacy, public education, collaboration with other social justice organizations and activists, and direct legal services, the NCLR advances the legal and human rights of LGBT people and their families across the United States.

Background

NCLR was founded as the Lesbian Rights Project in 1977 by

Donna Hitchens Donna Hitchens (born November 10, 1947) is the first openly-gay elected female judge in the United States, and the founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Through her work, she has campaigned openly for LGBT+ rights with a particular f ...

and other members of Equal Rights Advocates.

Roberta Achtenberg Roberta Achtenberg (born July 20, 1950) is an American attorney who served as a commissioner on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She was previously assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, becoming ...

served as the second executive director.

Kate Kendell Kate Kendell (born Kathryn Dean Kendell, April 15, 1960) is the former Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), a national legal organization that fights for the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and ...

served as executive director from 1996 to 2018. In December 2019, NCLR announced Imani Rupert-Gordon would be the next executive director, beginning March 2020. Cindy Myers served as ED in the interim. Notable cases in which the firm has been a primary counsel include ''

In re Marriage Cases ''In re Marriage Cases'', 43 Cal. 4th 757 (Cal. 2008) was a California Supreme Court case where the court held that laws treating classes of persons differently based on sexual orientation should be subject to strict judicial scrutiny, and that ...

'', '' Strauss v. Horton'', and '' Christian Legal Society v. Martinez''. In November 2014, as part of the NLCR's ''#BornPerfect'' campaign, Samantha Ames and Samuel Brinton testified before the UN Committee Against Torture, the first ever to do so regarding the practice of

conversion therapy Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and cli ...

as being a potential violation of human rights law. The NCLR runs a hotline to provide information to callers with legal questions related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Center For Lesbian Rights Lesbian organizations in the United States Civil liberties advocacy groups in the United States Legal advocacy organizations in the United States LGBT political advocacy groups in the United States 1977 establishments in California Organizations established in 1977 Organizations based in San Francisco Law in the San Francisco Bay Area LGBT culture in San Francisco Lesbian culture in California Lesbian culture in Washington, D.C.

Background

See also

References

External links