Hazel Brashar is a 21-year old transgender woman on Medicaid in Oregon. She experienced debilitating dysphoria as a result of the male-appearing features of her face. Unfortunately, Oregon Medicaid specifically excludes coverage for facial feminization surgery and Hazel’s request for prior authorization was denied.

In May 2016, Texas, joined by Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin, filed a federal lawsuit challenging guidance issued by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice recognizing that schools must be safe, respectful and nurturing environments for all students, including those who are transgender.

On October 25, 2016, NCLR filed an amicus brief before the Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit in Carcano v. McCrory arguing that laws that singling out transgender people for discrimination must be subjected to strict constitutional scrutiny and that North Carolina’s House Bill 2 (HB 2) fails that test.