LGBTQ Rights
Many local laws and courts have been affected by COVID-19. Please use the search for legal help tool to find a legal aid organization or self help center near you for accurate information and more support.
Read about where to file your lawsuit or case. Information on jurisdiction and venue.
If you cannot afford the filing fee or other court costs, you may qualify to have these fees and costs waived by the court.
This section will give you general guidelines for how to best prepare yourself for court.
The purpose of this Email Hotline is for WomensLaw to provide basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support.
Whatever the reason, you have the right to represent yourself, to be your own lawyer in all cases in California.
Getting married in California - frequently asked questions.
What documents should I prioritize changing now? Should I get a court ordered name change and/or gender change now? Should I change my name and gender on my birth certificate now, and if so how? Should I change my name and gender on my driver"s license or other state ID now, and if so how? Should I change my name and gender on my U.S. passport or immigration documents now, and if so how? Should I change my name and/or gender on my social security record now, and if so how? What about for transgender people under 18?
Information about family law for domestic partners.
Information on the Prison Rape Elmination Act (PREA), your safety and protection from violence, your medical care: constitutional requirements, necessary medical care for many transgender individuals inludes access to clothing and grooming, standards consistent with gender identity, housing administrative segregation, your rights through searches, your privacy, and your safely preserving/enforcing your rights.
Without written protections in place, your "chosen family" will not be legally recognized, and could very easily be questioned or contested by a biological family member.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) young people in the juvenile justice system, like all people in state custody, have clearly established civil rights under the U. S. Constitution, state and federal statutes and regulations, and agency policy
How to navigate issues with public and social benefits systems.
What we can do!
This section shows you how to ask for a court order changing your gender, both in cases where you also want to change your name or when you only want to change your gender.
Find information about voting in your area and report voting issues you encounter.
This publication gives an overview of the federal and state provisions requiring schools to protect students from anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination.
Can the school refuse to allow the GSA to meet if other students or community members oppose the group and create a disruption? Does the school have to give a GSA the same privileges as other clubs?
Laws and regulations, practical information, recent case law.
When dealing with law enforcement, FBI, and ICE.
As a student, you have rights at school: dress codes & uniforms, student expression, searches of students, school discipline, cell phone privacy, LGBTQ, pregnant & parenting students, social media, foster youth, file a complaint.
Info about sex ed, age of consent, LGBTQ, HIV/AIDS, condoms, birth control, abortion, pregnancy, emergency contraception, sexting.
Insurance providers cannot treat domestic partners and married spouses differently.
This booklet is tailored for LGBT people.
You have rights to access many healthcare services.
This question and answer guide is designed to address many of the frequently asked questions about protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the California foster care system from harassment and discrimination.