The National Center for LGBTQ Rights (formerly the National Center for Lesbian Rights)
is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
, 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 consumer, clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and Obligation, respon ...
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, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
with a policy team in
Washington, DC
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...
.
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 National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR) advances the legal and human rights of LGBT people and their families across the United States.
History
NCLR was founded as the Lesbian Rights Project in 1977 by
Donna Hitchens and other members of
Equal Rights Advocates.
Roberta Achtenberg served as the second executive director.
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.
On June 9, 2025, the organization changed their name from the National Center for Lesbian Rights to the National Center for LGBTQ Rights.
Work
The NCLR runs a hotline to provide information to callers with legal questions related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
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, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. Methods that have ...
as being a potential violation of human rights law.
Notable cases
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 tha ...
'', ''
Strauss v. Horton'', and ''
Christian Legal Society v. Martinez''.
See also
*
Coalition of Activist Lesbians Australia
The Coalition of Activist Lesbians Australia (CoAL) is an advocacy group established in 1994 to combat discrimination against lesbians, and the first lesbian non-government organisation to gain accreditation from the United Nations.
Activities
...
– national lesbian rights organization in Australia.
*
Roberta Achtenberg - second executive director.
References
External links
Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Center For Lesbian Rights
Lesbian organizations based in the United States
Civil liberties advocacy groups in the United States
Legal advocacy organizations in the United States
LGBTQ 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
LGBTQ culture in San Francisco
Lesbian culture in California
Lesbian culture in Washington, D.C.
Social justice organizations