Fact Sheet

April 27, 2018 is the National Day of Silence, a student-led action sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in which thousands of students around the country will remain silent for all or part of the school day to call attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

In 2017, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 239 into law, transforming the legal landscape with respect to HIV criminalization in California. Under the new law, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (DSan Francisco) and Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), criminal penalties based on a person’s HIV status cannot be imposed unless the person acts with the intent to harm another person.

Amending the sex designation on a birth certificate may be an extremely important step for a transgender person, to accurately reflect on this legal document the sex with which the individual identifies, and as required proof of sex to obtain other identity and legal documents. The requirements and process to change the sex designation on a birth certificate, and whether that is even possible, varies from state to state. The following is a list of legal authorities intended to assist with the process of changing the sex on a birth certificate.

The Illinois legislature passed the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Marriage Fairness Act.” Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the new marriage law and about the recent court decision ordering the Cook County Clerk to immediately issue marriage licenses.

It's tax season - and for married same-sex couples, it's a new world! Since the Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal government now recognizes the marriages of same-sex couples.