Legal/Policy
*The material and information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. You should not rely upon the material or information as a basis for making any medical, legal, or any other decisions.
Our legal and policy resources are designed to help parents navigate the complexities of laws and regulations affecting LGBTQ+ individuals. Understanding these legal aspects is vital for advocating for your child's rights and ensuring their protection in various settings, including schools, workplaces, and healthcare. Explore our curated articles, legal guides, and links to external organizations to stay informed and empowered.
The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. This map shows the overall policy tallies (as distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity tallies) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories.
Now is the time for action. GLAAD created this guide for communities to defeat book ban attempts, and send a powerful signal of welcome and acceptance.
Choose a state on the map to show the different bills targeting LGBTQ rights and take action. While not all of these bills will become law, they all cause harm for LGBTQ people.
This guide, created by Transgender Law Center, is intended to briefly outline your rights when it comes to interacting with law enforcement officers and share some examples of the reality that law enforcement officers often disregard peoples’ rights. This guide is designed for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people, but a lot of the information will be helpful to others.
Published by Athlete Ally in 2022, this is an in-depth review of all English-language scientific literature published between 2011-2021 about transgender (trans) women athlete participation in elite sport. The study was commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and completed by E-Alliance, a knowledge sharing hub made up of scholars and partner organizations from across Canada who are dedicated to gender+ equity in sport.
Within Lambda Legal's Transgender Rights Toolkit, readers will find answers to many questions that transgender people and their advocates may ask as they navigate through life. This toolkit is meant to be a resource and advocacy tool designed to educate and empower a community often left outside the walls of power
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American Civil Liberties Union: https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights?redirect=lgbt-rights
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Lambda Legal: https://lambdalegal.org/
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The LGBT Bar: https://lgbtqbar.org/
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National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): https://www.nclrights.org/ or call 800.528.6257 or 415.392.6257 Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Pacific
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Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDF): https://transgenderlegal.org/
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Sylvia Rivera Law Project (works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services): https://srlp.org/
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Transgender Law Center: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/
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** For both legal and immigration matters, you may also wish to contact law schools that have legal clinics. These often offer free legal services depending on their capacity.
Immigration Resources
The resources provided are primarily tailored for individuals and families residing in the United States. While we aim to offer comprehensive support and information, please note that legal, healthcare, and educational systems can vary significantly between countries. If you are outside of the United States and are seeking asylum or specific resources related to gender identity and LGBTQ+ issues, we strongly encourage you to consult with local experts and organizations familiar with your country's laws and services. Mama Dragons cannot provide specific legal advice or assistance for international cases. For accurate and applicable information, please seek guidance from local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, legal professionals, or international organizations that specialize in asylum and human rights.
There are also organizations here in the United States and elsewhere in the world that exist to help LGBTIA+ people internationally:
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Immigration Equality (for LGBTQ and HIV-positive immigrants): https://immigrationequality.org/ If you are in detention, call: (917) 654-9696 | M-W 9:30 - 5:30pm & Th 1:00 - 5:30pm. For general inquiries, call: (212) 714-2904. For legal resources: https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/resources/
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Rainbow Railroad (helps help at-risk LGBTQI+ people get to safety): https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/request-help
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Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM) (LGBTIQ friendly verified services to help you on your journey to safety): https://www.oramrefugee.org/seeking-help
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QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America: www.qua.community
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Rainbow World Fund (international LGBTQ+-based humanitarian aid organization): https://www.rainbowfund.org
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LGBT Asylum Project (for asylum seekers in the San Francisco Asylum Office jurisdiction): https://www.lgbtasylumproject.org/get-help.html
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LGBT Asylum Task Force (comprehensive support for two years after arriving in the US): https://www.lgbtasylum.org/ or call (774) 261-8199
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International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP): https://support.iraplegalinfo.org/hc/en-us, https://support.iraplegalinfo.org/hc/es, or https://support.iraplegalinfo.org/hc/ar
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The UN Refugee Agency (Information for Refugees, Asylum-seekers and Stateless People): https://help.unhcr.org/ (English), https://help.unhcr.org/es/ (Spanish), https://help.unhcr.org/fr/ (French), https://help.unhcr.org/ar/ (Arabic)
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No More Fear Foundation (resettlement support services): https://nomorefearfoundation.org/
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** For both legal and immigration matters, you may also wish to contact law schools that have legal clinics. These often offer free legal services depending on their capacity.