Keep It in the Holy Family?

For this season’s final episode, we discuss several overlapping cases all strung together by the thread of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in the context of child welfare and other federally funded programs. In Easter v. HHS, Marouf v. Becerra, Rogers v. HHS and Facing Foster Care in Alaska v.…

Fortune, Finally, Favors the Boldly in Love

Two cases challenging discriminatory policies that denied millions of dollars in social security survivor’s benefits to same-sex couples who were prevented from satisfying marriage-related requirements because of unconstitutional marriage bans.  Link to read the full episode transcript, here. For…

The Kids Are All Right

Colín v. Orange Unified School District was a groundbreaking case arguing for the right of students to form a gay-straight alliance and to become a recognized student club.  Link to read the full episode transcript, here. For more information on Making the Case and to access our resource hub on e…

Psychic Landlord Who Didn’t See Lawsuit Coming

Join Counsel Omar Gonzalez-Pagan as he discusses Smith v. Avanti, a federal discrimination lawsuit Lambda Legal filed against a property owner in Colorado who violated the federal Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent a housing unit to a same-sex couple, one of whom is transgender, and their childre…

Lambda Legal vs. the Largest Employer in the World

In some of the most historic wins for everyone living with HIV in America of the past several decades, Lambda Legal took on the Pentagon, challenging its unjust policies preventing enlistment, deployment, or commissioning as an officer if a person is living with HIV. Link to read the full episode …

Undetectable & Unjustly Fired

Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit in Louisiana on behalf of Liam Pierce, a lifelong public servant, after the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office rescinded a job offer as a Sheriff's Deputy because he is living with HIV. Link to read the full episode transcript, here. For more information on Making the Cas…

Banning Sex & Gender Based Discrimination for All

The Bostock case, decided by SCOTUS in 2020, approved the analysis Lambda Legal has been advancing for more than 15 years–that discrimination based on gender identity or on sexual orientation is sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.     Link to read the full episode t…

The Parking Lot Kiss That Changed American Law

In a groundbreaking 8-3 decision, the full Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation violates federal civil rights law. This came after Lambda Legal urged the Court to reverse a lower court ruling and allow Kimberly Hively to present her case a…

When Religious Beliefs Go Too Far

Argued from 2001-2009, Benitez v. North Coast Women's Care Medical Group was a case led by Senior Counsel, and now Acting Chief Legal Officer, Jenny Pizer in California. The case argued that health care providers' personal religious beliefs do not excuse discrimination against LGBTQ+ patients in pu…

Fly Over Equality: Fighting for Marriage in Iowa

In late 2004, Lambda Legal filed the Varnum v. Brien case arguing the state of Iowa should legalize same-sex marriage. Deputy Legal Director for Litigation, Camilla Taylor walks us through this landmark case and the creative ways in which the team argued the State's limitations violated the equal p…