The Brief
NCLR Continues to Fight in Oklahoma Parental Rights Case
NCLR filed our opening briefing on Monday on behalf of our client fighting to regain her parental rights in Oklahoma. Our client, a lesbian non-biological parent, lost custody of her child when a trial court refused to honor the couple’s marriage and held that the child’s sperm donor, rather than the birth mother’s spouse, was the child’s lawful second parent.
NCLR is appealing the decision and requesting that the Supreme Court of Oklahoma reverse the trial court’s decision and comply with binding United States Supreme Court precedent (from an NCLR case) that states must treat married same-sex couples and their children equally. NCLR continues to monitor similar cases in other states, most recently filing an amicus brief in support of a non-biological lesbian parent in Minnesota whose parental rights were similarly challenged by a known sperm donor. If you have questions about your legal status or how to best protect your family, please contact our helpline.
Massachusetts Passes Parentage Act
NCLR is proud to be part of a coalition of LGBTQ+ advocates who worked to pass the Massachusetts Parentage Act, which updates Massachusetts law to protect all families, including those headed by LGBTQ parents. The successful effort led by Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy at GLAD, ensured the passage of legislation that clarifies who legally qualifies to be a child’s parent. This includes cases where a parent might not have genetic ties to their child. The bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey on August 12th and goes into effect January 1st. More.
SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Healthcare Ban Case
The Supreme Court recently agreed to review the Sixth Circuit’s opinion in a case called L.W. v. Skrmetti, which upheld Tennessee and Kentucky law banning medical care for transgender youth. NCLR is counsel for parents and transgender youth in the Kentucky case. The legal question the Supreme Court agreed to hear is whether these laws violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys arguing the case are asking the Supreme Court to stand by its recent decision that targeting transgender people is sex discrimination. More.
California Passes LGBTQ Youth Protection Law
NCLR Senior Youth Policy Counsel, Danny King, joined a coalition of advocates from across California to pass the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act (SAFETY Act).
Last week, after a year of work, we finally won when the bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom. The SAFETY Act will ensure that LGBTQ students in California have the same privacy protections as other students, provide resources for parents, and establish accountability for teachers who violate student privacy.
Victory for Transgender Youth and Adults in Florida
In June, a federal district court permanently blocked Florida from enforcing a law that bans medical care for transgender adolescents and restricts care for transgender adults. The ruling in Doe v. Ladapo found that Florida SB 254 and the related Boards of Medicine (BOM) rules were motivated by disapproval of transgender people and violate the equal protection rights of transgender people. Florida was the first state to pass a law restricting access to health care for transgender adults. June’s ruling permanently blocks those restrictions as well as the ban on care for adolescents.
