Fact Sheet

Working to Defeat Discriminatory Refusals of Medical Care

Lambda Legal, the leading national legal organization dedicated to achieving full civil rights for LGBT people and people with HIV, has had an exceptional year. Our high-impact cases and educational programs continue to serve our mission by securing new and expanded legal protections and by amplifying our message in public forums. Below are highlights of our accomplishments.

What is it and what will it do?

Anti-discrimination laws are important tools for protecting non-discriminatory access to health care for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Studies demonstrate that anti-gay and antitrans bias permeates the medical profession, with adverse effects on the health and well-being of LGBT people.

Are you and your same-sex partner thinking about traveling or moving to another state but worried about whether your relationship will be respected? Or have you joined the growing movement to advocate that employers or organizations, when choosing sites for a convention or meeting, avoid locales that require or promote discrimination against same-sex relationships?

Today, more than one million people nationwide are living with HIV, and tens of thousands of new infections occur each year. People living with HIV continue to face widespread discrimination in employment, health care, housing, parenting, immigration, criminal justice and many other areas of life.

Marriages of same-sex couples validly performed in other jurisdictions are accorded legal respect in New York state under longstanding principles of law.