LGBTQ Pride Month: Legal Resources for the LGBTQ Community
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month), in honor of the 1969 Stonewall riots. The history of Pride Month and the significance of the Stonewall riots and Stonewall Inn (now a National Monument) can be found on many websites, including Biography, Library of Congress and GLAAD. Some U.S. Presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, have officially declared June as Pride Month through Presidential Proclamation.
In honor of Pride Month, Washington State Law Library staff are highlighting some of their favorite resources and organizations which provide legal assistance, education, and advocacy to the LGBTQ community in Washington State. There are many great organizations doing this work in Washington, so the list is by no means comprehensive.
Self-Help Guides
WashingtonLawHelp.org — One of the library’s “go to” websites. There are guides on LGBTQ Rights, name change, Medicare/Medicaid benefits for same sex couples, and gender marker changes.
Homeless Youth Handbook-Washington — This 250-page handbook is written in a question/answer format for youth (15–16 year olds) and includes a LGBTQ chapter covering safety and victimization, rights of foster youth, sexual assault, safe access to education, bullying, and finding supportive medical treatment providers.
National Resource Center on LGBT Aging — This website, run by SAGE, has an extensive collection of studies, practice guides and brochures covering a wide range of issues faced by LGBT elders. Topics covered include Coming Out Later in Life, Elder Abuse, HIV & Aging, Mental Health, Social Security/Medicaid/Medicare, and Transgender.
Organizations Supporting LGBTQ Legal Professionals & Their Allies
University of Washington (UW) School of Law Outlaws — UW Outlaws is a student group which provides a social and support network for LGBTQ law students. For contact information, see their group listing on UW Law Student Groups website.
QLaw LGBT Bar Association — QLaw has a mentoring program to help “facilitate mentoring relationships within the LGBT legal community.”
WSBA LGBT Law Section — Washington State Bar Association’s LGBT Law Section helps bar members “better service their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients.” Their website includes an extensive list of resources such as regional and national organizations, and articles.
Organizations Providing Direct Legal Services to the Public
QLaw Foundation of Washington — QLaw Foundation’s LGBTQ Legal Clinic is offered in conjunction with King County Bar Association as one of the KCBA Neighborhood Legal Clinics. This clinic gives King County residents an opportunity to meet with specially trained attorneys on issues faced by the LGBTQ community, including powers of attorney, estate planning, protecting parental rights (including adoption), and changing legal name and gender markers.
Lambda Legal — Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal has been at the center of many precedent setting cases defending the rights of the LGBT community. Lambda Legal also provides an overview of LGBT rights in Washington State.
Modern Military Association of America — MMAA is a non-profit “working to make a real difference in the lives of our modern military families through education, advocacy and support.” The organization provides free and direct legal services to LGBTQ active duty service members and veterans. They can assist with discharge upgrades, name changes and gender markers on military records, and more. They also publish a blog and a magazine on current issues affecting LGBTQ service members and veterans.
SAGE — SAGE is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT elders. Through their National LGBT Elder Hotline, they provide a non-judgmental ear, offer peer-to-peer support and connect callers with local resources. SAGE has 29 national affiliates including one in Olympia.
Lavender Rights Project — This group, based in the Seattle area, offers free and low-cost representation on a range of issues, including all trans/transition-related legal matters. They also provide mediation on a variety of conflicts and conduct Know Your Rights clinics.
State Agencies Providing Services to the Public
Washington State Human Rights Commission — The Human Rights Commission is a state agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Washington Law Against Discrimination. On their website, they incorporated guides on sexual orientation & gender identity into each area over which they have jurisdiction: employment, fair housing, public accommodation, credit and insurance. You can also file a complaint with the Commission.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Office of Equity & Civil Rights — This office works with school districts and parents to make sure each student as equal access to public education without discrimination. Their Gender-Inclusive Schools website has guidance regarding appearance and dress codes, use of restrooms/locker rooms, sports, preferred name and official/non-official school records. This office also provides guidance to families on gender-inclusive schools and filing a formal discrimination complaint with the office.
Washington State Department of Health — Department of Health has adopted WAC 246–490–075, which formalizes the process for people wanting to change the sex designation on their birth certificate. This WAC also adds “X” as a third sex designation. Information on the process, forms and fees can be found on their website.
Organizations with Awareness/Education Campaigns
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) — HRC has educational and advocacy campaigns covering a wide range of issues, from adoption to workplace equality. Through their All Children — All Families project, HRC promotes LGBTQ cultural competency among child welfare agencies by providing staff training, webinars, and an agency self-assessment tool. HRC’s website also has a Communities of Color section, with resources on the unique cultural challenges faced by LGBTQ people of color. This is also where you can find information on HRC’s A La Familia bilingual project, which promotes inclusion of LGBTQ people within Latinx communities.
Pride Foundation — Pride Foundation is the largest community foundation in the Northwest focused solely on LGBTQ equality. With offices in five states, they support a network of community partners addressing LGBTQ needs such as safe schools, healthcare access and workplace equality in both urban and rural areas across the Northwest. They also fund legal, educational and community services through their community grant program. For example, in 2017 grants funded the establishment of safe and affirming care protocols for LGBTQ youth in the juvenile justice system (Center for Children Youth Justice), expanded legal services for immigrants (several organizations in Washington and Oregon), provided for direct legal representation (Lavender Rights Project) and expanded services to LGBTQ survivors of violence (Spokane). (JL)
