LGBTQIA+ Rights

We envision a world in which all LGBTQ+ people can live openly, freely, and fully.

In front of a Barnes & Nobles, a crowd stands in front of a stage. Several people are holding signs, LGBTQIA+ flags, etc.

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people have been a touchstone of the ACLU of Connecticut's legal and legislative work. In 2008, we joined the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders to win the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in our state. In 2011, we helped win passage of a gender identity law that makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people in employment, housing, public education, accommodations and commercial transactions. In 2016, we successfully pushed for a law to prevent discrimination in our state military departments, such as the National Guard, against people on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, or gender. And in 2017, we helped to pass a law to protect LGBTQIA+ youth from harmful conversion "therapy."

We envision a world in which all LGBTQIA+ people can live openly, freely, and fully. We seek to defend trans children's rights in schools and sports, to advance access to gender-affirming care, to protect LGBTQIA+ people in and from the criminal legal system, and to create a world where LGBTQIA+ people can live authentically without discrimination, harassment, or violence.

The Latest

News & Commentary
A group of women are standing in a hearing room at the Capitol, holding signs that says "Undocumented + Unafraid" and "Strengthen the Trust Act Now!"

Reflecting on the 2025 Legislative Session

The 2025 legislative session has come to a close, and it was certainly a trying session for all. In a session where roughly 3,800 bills were introduced, only about 380 bills were passed, rounding up to a passing rate of about ten percent.
Press Release
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ACLU of Connecticut Sends Rejoinder to Suffield Library About Book Policies, LGBTQIA+ Advocates Weigh In

Issue Areas: Free Speech, Youth and Student Rights, LGBTQIA+ Rights
Resource
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Firewalls for Freedom

Press Release
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Court Ruling in Clark v. Quiros is a Victory for Gender-Affirming Healthcare

A federal court has ruled in favor of Veronica-May Clark in her lawsuit challenging the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC)’s failure to treat her gender dysphoria for years.
Issue Areas: LGBTQIA+ Rights, Criminal Legal System
Court Cases: Clark v Department of Correction
Court Case
Apr 30, 2021

Clark v Department of Correction

By denying our client gender-affirming medical care that she needs, the DOC and Attorney General’s office are threatening her life and health, and they're violating federal law. We’re in court to ensure that transgender people who are incarcerated are able to get the gender-affirming care they need.
Court Case
Apr 01, 2021

Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities v Edge Fitness (amicus brief)

The way to prevent men from harassing women in public spaces is to create measures to stop harassment, not to create exceptions to our state’s anti-discrimination law that implicate women as the problem.
Court Case
Feb 14, 2020

Soule et al v. CT Association of Schools et al

The ACLU of Connecticut has joined a lawsuit representing the interests of transgender student athletes in Connecticut.