The Brief is NCLR’s monthly newsletter featuring important case updates, information on what our team has been up to, and reminders for upcoming events.
The Brief
December 2024
NCLR VP of Legal, Shannon Minter, on U.S. v. Skrmetti
On December 4th, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti. The justices will determine whether Tennessee is violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by prohibiting healthcare for transgender youth.
NCLR has brought cases in Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky around this issue. Tennessee’s law, and similar laws in other states, discriminates against transgender people by targeting only transgender adolescent use of medications that are also used by non-transgender youth.
Shannon Minter shared a summary of the day’s arguments and his perspective on this historic case.
Below, from left to right: Ming Wong, NCLR, Ezra Stone, LCSW, Stone Therapy and Consulting; Crystal Sorrow, Peaceful Paths; Cathy Robinson-Pickett, Friends Together
Florida Rural Pride Was a Huge Success!
NCLR organized a Rural Pride Summit at Trinity MCC in Gainesville, Florida, on December 6th, which drew about 40 community members in Northern Florida. Participants were actively engaged in discussions throughout the day and very interested in staying connected with each other and with NCLR as a national organization.
County Commissioner Mary Alford opened the summit by speaking about the importance of connecting on a human level and insisting on inclusion where LGBTQ people would not necessarily be expected to be as a strategy to make change.
The summit reinforced our belief that LGBTQ people in rural areas have abundant expertise to share and our national movement. Closing speaker Jon Harris Maurer of Equality Florida explained that advocates in Florida already know how to succeed in a very hostile legislative climate and spoke of the importance of sharing that expertise with community organizations nationwide.
NCLR is grateful to all the panelists and speakers at this event: Mary Alford, Ezra Stone, Simone Chriss, Cathy Robinson-Pickett, Crystal Sorrow, Jane Haskell, Kevin Rabin, Elizabeth Husband, Theresa Beachy, Janet Allen, and Jon Harris Maurer.
We are also grateful to the many Florida organizations that worked with us and helped make this event a success, including Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, Equality Florida, PFLAG Gainesville, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, Southern Legal Counsel, Three Rivers Legal Services, Peaceful Paths, Tallahassee Pride, Florida Access Network (FAN), and JASMYN.
LGBTQ Family and Marriage Webinar and Resource Guide
On November 20th, NCLR hosted a webinar on LGBTQ family and marriage protections to address our community’s post-election concerns. We were thankful to collaborate with our partners at GLAD Law, Movement Advancement Project, and Family Equality to share valuable information and resources.
The recorded webinar can be viewed on our YouTube channel. Our organizations have also developed this resource guide filled with commonly asked questions. Please reach out to NCLR’s Legal Helpline with any concerns you or your loved ones may have about LGBTQ marriage and family protections.
2024 NCLR Virtual Briefing + Year in Review
On December 9th, NCLR’s leadership, legal, and policy teams provided updates on their work and shared how we plan to meet this moment. We were very grateful to connect with many of you to share our successes from 2024 and plans to continue our work to protect LGBTQ rights.
The virtual briefing can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
An Evening with Transgender Rights Trailblazers
Earlier this fall, two trailblazers of LGBTQ advocacy, NCLR’s VP of Legal Shannon Minter and GLAD Law Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights Jennifer Levi discussed their decades of experience in the movement to secure equal rights for transgender people, what’s happening across the country now, and what we can take into the work for justice ahead of us.
On December 17th, join NCLR President Imani Rupert-Gordon and GLAD LAW Executive Director Ricardo Martinez for a virtual screening of excerpts from this insightful and inspiring conversation, followed by a live discussion with Shannon and Jennifer about the Supreme Court, other pending legal challenges, what we expect with the incoming administration, and more. RSVP today!
A Gift for 100% of Us
Will you give your all for LGBTQ equality? Because 100% of NCLR’s budget comes from community support, we need 100% of you to join us today!
100% of your gift today will:
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Advocate for supportive and inclusive policy for all.
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Challenge legislation that discriminates against any LGBTQ person.
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Set a precedent that our community can depend on for the next 50 years.
When you support NCLR, you support the same brave, inclusive, cutting-edge organization we’ve always been, an organization fighting for 100% of our community for nearly half a century.
Latest Issues
November 2024
Building Coalition: our work post-election;
Advancing Our Freedom Beyond the 2024 Elections;
Transgender Day of Remembrance;
Imani Rupert-Gordon to Join Panel of LGBTQ Leaders;
Giving Tuesday;
Supreme Court—U.S. v. Skrmetti;
Florida Rural Pride;
End-of-Year Virtual Briefing
October 2024
Florida Families File Brief Against Ban on Healthcare for Transgender Youth;
National LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey;
NCLR President spoke at University of Chicago;
Florida Rural Pride
September 2024
Victory for Transgender Kids in Arizona;
Conversion Therapy Remains Banned in Colorado;
Shannon Minter Featured in Twelve Soldiers Project;
Florida Rural Pride;
SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Healthcare Ban Case
August 2024
NCLR Continues to Fight in Oklahoma Parental Rights Case;
Massachusetts Passes Parentage Act;
SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Healthcare Ban Case;
Victory for Transgender Youth and Adults in Florida
Archive: Out for Justice (2010 – 2020)
