Transgender Legal Defense And Education Fund Inc

Programs: The impact litigation program pursues justice and expands rights for transgender people in federal and state courts (as well as administrative agencies) throughout the nation, both in representing our own clients and by filing amicus briefs in major cases. The focus of the program is to secure long-lasting and comprehensive protection for transgender people by establishing favorable precedents particularly in high-barrier states of the south and midwest - under the anti-discrimination provisions of title vii, title ix, and related constitutional provisions, as well as under parallel state laws. In 2017, the program pursued more than a dozen cases and/or administrative proceedings. Among others, we successfully represented clients seeking redress from a large school system in the south, a major new york state government agency, and (in two southern states) one of the largest us employers, and filed amicus briefs on crucial issues in a state appellate court, two federal district courts, and the us supreme court.

the name change project provides a vital legal service in georgia, illinois, michigan, new jersey, new york, pennsylvania, and wisconsin. For many transgender people, securing a legal name change is an important step toward making their legal identities match their lived experience. It is often the final step necessary to feel confident when seeking work, flying on a plane, or even just going to the bank. A lack of appropriate government-issued identification can deter people from applying for jobs, school, and public benefits, and can lead to discrimination. Securing a legal name change can be a challenging and intimidating experience that involves the court system and judges. Court staff rarely help a client understand the name change process, and legal representation is essential to successfully navigating the bureaucracy. By providing people with quality legal representation in partnership with pro bono attorneys at some of the nation's most prestigious law firms, we ensure that transgender people successfully complete the process and move forward with their lives. In 2017, we conducted 509 intakes, resulting in 128 clients legally changing their names.

our community education initiative leverages our staff's expertise on trans rights to empower trans people, who are often routinely subject to discrimination. We offer three types of training: know your rights workshops, corporate trainings, and continuing legal education. Know your rights trainings ensure that members of the transgender community understand the rights we fight to protect. Our corporate trainings change the world one workplace and one person at a time. Specifically, they help managers and team members be more inclusive of people who are transgender and gender nonconforming. Our continuing legal education helps attorneys and law firms better serve their trans clients. The legal education helps build culturally competent attorneys by educating them on the needs of transgender clients. Our program gives attorneys the tools they need to take on cases for trans plaintiffs. In addition to these education initiatives, we also serve as speakers, interviewees and panelists to the media, universities, corporations, social justice advocacy organizations, political advocacy groups, unions and other groups.