Landmark Cases

Cases that changed the face of LGBT and HIV Law

Baehr v. Miike
Pioneering case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Hawaii

Baker v. Vermont (amicus)
(Amicus) Groundbreaking case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Vermont

Benitez v. North Coast Women's Care Medical Group
Case arguing that health care providers’ personal religious beliefs do not excuse discrimination against LGBT patients Issues

Board of Regents of U. of Wisconsin v. Southworth (amicus)
(Amicus) Historic case seeking to uphold a viewpoint-neutral student group system at public universities

Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Groundbreaking case arguing against the Boy Scouts of America's discriminatory policy of excluding gay people from leadership positions

Brandon v. Richardson County
Historic case arguing for a sheriff's culpability for his acts in the murder of a transgender man

Cammermeyer v. Perry
Pioneering case arguing the reinstatement of Army and National Guard veteran after she was discharged because of her sexual orientation

Colín v. Orange Unified School District
Groundbreaking case arguing for the right of students to form a gay-straight alliance and to become a recognized student club

Finstuen v. Edmondson
Case challenging an extreme law that left children adopted by same-sex couples in other states “orphans” when their families moved to or traveled through Oklahoma

Goodridge v. Department of Public Health (amicus)
(Amicus) Groundbreaking case seeking the right to marry for same-sex couples in Massachusetts

Henkle v. Gregory
Historic case seeking to enforce a student's First Amendment right to be out at school

In re Guardianship of Sharon Kowalski
Landmark case seeking guardianship of a recently disabled woman for her same-sex partner

In re Marriage Cases
Case seeking the right for same-sex couples to marry in California

Kerrigan v. State of Connecticut (amicus)
(Amicus) Case seeking the right for same-sex couples to marry in Connecticut

Lawrence v. Texas
Historic case arguing to overturn all remaining sodomy laws in the United States

Matter of Matthew Cusick and Cirque du Soleil
Groundbreaking case arguing against Cirque du Soleil's decision to fire an employee because of his HIV status

Nabozny v. Podlesny
Groundbreaking case arguing that schools have a responsibility to protect students from antigay verbal and physical abuse

Romer v. Evans
Historic case arguing against a statewide antigay initiative prohibiting all branches of state government in Colorado from protecting lesbians, gay men or bisexuals from discrimination based on their sexual orientation

Taylor v. Rice
Case arguing against the Foreign Service's policy of not hiring anyone who is HIV positive

United States v. Marcum (amicus)
(Amicus) Landmark case challenging the military's sodomy law in the wake of Lawrence v. Texas which overturned all remaining sodomy laws in the U.S.

Varnum v. Brien
Case seeking the right for same-sex couples to marry in Iowa