National Center for Lesbian Rights
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a non-profit, public interest law firm in the United States that advocates for equitable public policies affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, provides free legal assistance to LGBT clients and their legal advocates, and conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. It is headquartered in San Francisco with a policy team in Washington, DC. It is the only organization in the United States dedicated to lesbian legal issues, and the largest national lesbian organization in terms of members.
Through impact litigation, public policy advocacy, public education, collaboration with other social justice organizations and activists, and direct legal services, the NCLR advances the legal and human rights of LGBT people and their families across the United States.
NCLR was founded as the Lesbian Rights Project in 1977 by Donna Hitchens and other members of Equal Rights Advocates. Roberta Achtenberg served as the second Executive Director. Kate Kendell served as Executive Director from 1996 to 2018. In December 2019, NCLR announced Imani Rupert-Gordon will be the next Executive Director, beginning March 2020. Cindy Myers is serving as ED in the interim.
Notable cases in which the firm has been a primary counsel include In re Marriage Cases, Strauss v. Horton, and Christian Legal Society v. Martinez.
The NCLR runs a hotline to provide information to callers with legal questions related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
