LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND INC
120 WALL STREET 19TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 100053904 www.lambdalegal.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND, INC. ("LAMBDA LEGAL") IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING FULL RECOGNITION OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LESBIANS, GAY MEN, BISEXUALS, TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND ANYONE WITH HIV THROUGH IMPACT LITIGATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC POLICY WORK.

FOR OVER FORTY-FIVE YEARS, LAMBDA LEGAL HAS BEEN THE NATION'S LARGEST LEGAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ADVANCE AND PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AND EVERYONE LIVING WITH HIV (COLLECTIVELY "LGBTQ+ PEOPLE") THROUGH LITIGATION, PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. IN 2019, WE CONTINUED OUR EFFORTS TO DEFEND THE GAINS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN SECURING MEANINGFUL LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, WHILE ALSO CONTINUING OUR AFFIRMATIVE DRIVE TO ACHIEVE FULL FORMAL AND LIVED EQUALITY FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY FOCUSES ON FOUR KEY AREAS: (1) PROTECTING AND DEFENDING LGBTQ IDENTITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS; (2) SECURING AND EXPANDING NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS; (3) CHALLENGING LAWS DRIVEN BY STIGMA RATHER THAN SCIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF LGBTQ+ HEALTH; AND (4) ROOTING OUT ANTI-LGBTQ+ BIAS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN 2019, LAMBDA LEGAL WON IMPORTANT VICTORIES ADVANCING THESE GOALS. FIRST, WITH RESPECT TO LGBTQ IDENTITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS, WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO ENSURE THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SECURE ACCURATE BIRTH CERTIFICATES WITH THE SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF OUR LAWSUIT AGAINST KANSAS, AND A NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST THE LAST REMAINING STATE WITH AN OUTRIGHT BAN ON CHANGING THE GENDER MARKER DESIGNATED AT BIRTH, TENNESSEE. OUR LITIGATION IN OHIO CONTINUED AFTER OVERCOMING THE STATE'S MOTION TO DISMISS, AND WE PREPARED TO DEFEND OUR WIN IN IDAHO FROM LEGISLATIVE ATTACK. WE DEFENDED OUR HISTORIC FEDERAL COURT WIN AGAINST THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR REFUSING TO ISSUE AN ACCURATE PASSPORT TO AN INTERSEX, NON-BINARY PERSON IN THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, AND SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS MAKING A THIRD, NON-BINARY GENDER DESIGNATION AVAILABLE ON KEY IDENTITY DOCUMENTS LIKE BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES. ALTHOUGH THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED THE BAN ON MILITARY SERVICE BY TRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO TAKE EFFECT IN 2019 WHILE THE LITIGATION RUNS ITS COURSE, WE HAVE PUSHED AHEAD IN OUR CHALLENGE ON BEHALF OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING OR WISH TO SERVE, AND WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THE ABILITY TO DO SO DESPITE STRONG QUALIFICATIONS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE. THE FIGHT FOR FULL MARRIAGE EQUALITY FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES CONTINUES AS WELL. WE HAVE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS PENDING AGAINST THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FOR DISCRIMINATORY DENIALS OF FEDERAL SURVIVOR BENEFITS TO SURVIVING SAME-SEX SPOUSES, AND MOVED CLOSER TO CERTIFYING A CLASS FOR PURPOSES OF SECURING BROAD-SCALE RELIEF FOR COUPLES AFFECTED NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. WE ALSO FILED TWO LAWSUITS AGAINST THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT FOR REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP OF CHILDREN BORN ABROAD TO MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES BASED ON THE AGENCY'S ERRONEOUS DECISION TO APPLY THE TEST USED TO DETERMINE CITIZENSHIP FOR A CHILD BORN OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED A TOWN CLERK'S REFUSAL TO ISSUE A LICENSE TO A SAME-SEX COUPLE IN NEW YORK BASED ON THE CLERK'S RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO THEM MARRYING.WE HAVE ENGAGED IN LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY TO MODERNIZE SURROGACY LAWS, AND HAVE FILED BRIEFS IN FAMILY LAW CASES TO DEFEND THE LEGAL RELATIONSHIPS OF SAME-SEX MARRIED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHERE THE FAMILY WAS CREATED USING ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY.SECOND, IN OUR ONGOING EFFORT TO SECURE AND EXPAND NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS, WE SUED AND BLOCKED IMPLEMENTATION OF A RULE THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS RECEIVING FEDERAL DOLLARS TO PUT THE RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AHEAD OF THE HEALTH OF THEIR PATIENTS. MOREOVER, WE SUED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR GRANTING A WAIVER TO A TAXPAYER FUNDED CHILD WELFARE AGENCY THAT REFUSES TO WORK WITH SAME-SEX COUPLES AND OTHER PROSPECTIVE PARENTS WHO DID NOT SATISFY THEIR RELIGIOUS LITMUS TEST; WE ALSO DEFEATED A MOTION TO DISMISS SIMILAR LITIGATION AGAINST HHS FOR AUTHORIZING DISCRIMINATION BY CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM. WE CO-LED A NATIONAL COALITION TO PROMOTE NONDISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, PROVIDED EXPERT WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES' WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON BEST PRACTICES FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, AND WERE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FIGHTING STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS IN ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE AND ELSEWHERE THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE DISCRIMINATION BY CHILD WELFARE PROVIDERS. WE CONTINUED OUR DECADES-LONG EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THE FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW'S PROHIBITION ON SEX DISCRIMINATION, TITLE VII OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, IS CORRECTLY INTERPRETED AS ENCOMPASSING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY BY FILING TWO FRIEND-OF-THE-COURT BRIEFS IN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES ON ITS 2019-2020 DOCKET THAT PRESENT THESE QUESTIONS. WE ALSO ACHIEVED A LANDMARK LEGISLATIVE VICTORY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE EQUALITY ACT BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SECURE PROTECTION AGAINST SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND CREDIT, AND EXPAND PROTECTIONS IN PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAMS. WE DEFENDED IN THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS OUR GROUNDBREAKING WIN AFTER TRIAL ON BEHALF OF A TRANSGENDER STUDENT WHO CHALLENGED HIS SCHOOL DISTRICT'S REFUSAL TO LET HIM USE APPROPRIATE FACILITIES. WE CONTINUED LITIGATION UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS DENIED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, WHILE ALSO SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO HHS OBJECTING TO ITS PROPOSAL TO UNDERMINE KEY NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS IN THE LAW. LIKEWISE, WE OBJECTED TO PROPOSED CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO UNDERMINE NONDISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS FOR LGBT PEOPLE IN FEDERALLY-SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING HOMELESS SHELTERS, AS WELL AS OTHER PROPOSED REGULATIONS BY HHS AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND EDUCATION THAT WOULD UNDERMINE EXISTING PROTECTIONS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY BY RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING. WE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED A LAWSUIT INVOLVING A SAME-SEX COUPLE DENIED ACCOMMODATIONS BY A B&B OWNER CLAIMING A RELIGIOUS OBJECTION TO SERVING THEM, AND CONTINUED OUR WORK ON BEHALF OF OTHER SAME-SEX COUPLES DENIED SERVICE BY BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ASSERTED THE RIGHT TO RELIGION-BASED EXEMPTIONS FROM STATE NON-DISCRIMINATION LAWS. THIRD, LAMBDA LEGAL FIGHTS NATIONALLY TO ENSURE THAT LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE ARE GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, RATHER THAN DRIVEN BY STIGMA. TO THAT END, IN 2019, WE WON A GROUNDBREAKING DECISION PREVENTING THE U.S. MILITARY FROM ENFORCING ITS OUTDATED AND STIGMA-DRIVEN POLICY REGARDING SERVICE BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AGAINST TWO AIRMEN, AND SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED THAT DECISION IN THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS. IN OTHER HIV LITIGATION, WE ACHIEVED A FAVORABLE SETTLEMENT ON BEHALF OF AN INDIVIDUAL DENIED EMPLOYMENT AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN LOUISIANA, AND SUCCESSFULLY SUED A BARBERSHOP IN CALIFORNIA FOR REFUSING TO CUT THE HAIR OF A PERSON LIVING WITH HIV. ON THE LEGISLATIVE FRONT, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH STATE-BASED ADVOCATES IN INDIANA, FLORIDA AND ELSEWHERE TO AMEND OR REPEAL DRACONIAN LAWS IMPOSING HARSHER PUNISHMENT ON SEXUAL ACTIVITY BY PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV. WE CONTINUED LITIGATING CASES IN ALASKA AND NORTH CAROLINA INVOLVING IRRATIONAL AND DISCRIMINATORY LIMITATIONS ON COVERAGE FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY GENDER TRANSITION-RELATED CARE IN PUBLIC EMPLOYER INSURANCE PLANS. WE ALSO INSTIGATED THE LEGISLATIVE REPEAL OF AN ANTI-LGBT CURRICULUM LAW IN ARIZONA AFTER FILING SUIT IN FEDERAL COURT. FOURTH, WITH RESPECT TO THE TREATMENT OF LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, THROUGH OUR FAIR COURTS PROJECT, LAMBDA LEGAL HAS BEEN A LEADING VOICE DEFENDING THE INTEGRITY OF THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY. THROUGH ADVOCACY LETTERS AND OTHER PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS, INCLUDING OUR THIRD ANNUAL, NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED YEAR-END REPORT, WE HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM OVER JUDICIAL NOMINEES WITH RECORDS REVEALING DEEP HOSTILITY TO LGBTQ+ EQUALITY. OUR ADVOCACY HELD OFF THE CONFIRMATION OF A NUMBER OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ NOMINEES FOR MANY MONTHS AND IN SOME CASES, YEARS AND RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE WITH LAWMAKERS, THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC.AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, WE EDUCATED THOUSANDS OF COURT OFFICIALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCREASING CULTURAL COMPETENCE ON LGBTQ+ ISSUES AND PROVIDING TOOLS FOR JUDGES TO ROOT OUT BIAS IN THEIR COURTROOMS. WE FILED AMICUS BRIEFS IN CASES INVOLVING ANTI-LGBTQ+ JUROR BIAS AND ENGAGED IN OTHER ADVOCACY TO ADDRESS OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION FACED BY LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE HAVE WORKED WITH STATE AND LOCAL ADVOCATE TO MODERNIZE LAWS.

OUR LEGAL WORK IS SUPPORTED BY EXPANSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT ALLOW US TO REACH A WIDE RANGE OF AUDIENCES ACROSS MANY CHANNELS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MEDIA TEAM REGULARLY ENGAGES WITH A BROAD RANGE OF REPORTERS TO KEEP THEM, AND BY EXTENSION THEIR AUDIENCES, INFORMED ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS ISSUES. MOREOVER, WE MAINTAINED A ROBUST ONLINE PRESENCE THAT PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES, TIMELY NEWS, ANALYSIS, AND COMMENTARY ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING OUR WEBSITE (WHICH HAD NEARLY A MILLION VISITORS IN 2019), AS WELL AS FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, MEDIUM AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THROUGH THESE PLATFORMS, LAMBDA LEGAL HAS PUBLISHED HUNDREDS OF PIECES OF CONTENT THAT CAN REACH OVER A MILLION OR MORE PEOPLE EVERY WEEK. THESE COMBINED EFFORTS GENERATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEWS STORIES ANNUALLY, AND ADVANCE OUR GOAL OF INCREASING AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES LGBTQ+ PEOPLE FACE AND OUR WORK TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS GREATER UNDERSTANDING WITHIN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS. WHERE POSSIBLE, WE LEVERAGED PARTICULAR CASES INTO LARGER EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE USED OUR WIN IN THE BARBERSHOP CASE DESCRIBED ABOVE TO FORGE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE FOR AN OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM CALLED "CUT THE STIGMA," TARGETING IN PARTICULAR MISINFORMATION ABOUT HIV WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FINALLY, LAMBDA LEGAL'S ATTORNEYS AND OTHER STAFF SPEAK AT DOZENS OF CONFERENCES EVERY YEAR, PROVIDING INSIGHT AND INFORMATION ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING LGBTQ+ RIGHTS.

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