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Everyone in America deserves equal treatment under the law regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression including the right to marry the partner of your choice. The ACLU works for equal rights and legal protections against discrimination and harassment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
A photo of the supreme court of the United States by Photo by Ian Hutchinson from Unsplash

FAQ: Washington and the 303 Creative v. Elenis Case

Preliminary guidance on how this decision will impact Washington.

ACLU-WA comment on signing of abortion and gender-affirming care bills into law

Gov. Inslee signed a package of bills that take meaningful steps toward defending health care access

Resources

State's largest healthcare network sued for refusing to provide care to transgender man

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
The ACLU of Washington today filed a lawsuit against Swedish Health Services and Providence Health & Services for refusing to provide a medically necessary surgery for a transgender man.
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Parent sues employer for denying insurance coverage to transgender son

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, October 5, 2017
The ACLU of Washington today filed a civil rights lawsuit against PeaceHealth, a Catholic healthcare organization, on behalf of Cheryl Enstad and her teenage son, Pax, for denying coverage under its health benefits plan for medically necessary surgery to Pax simply because of who he is. The suit says that PeaceHealth’s policy of refusing to cover medical care required by transgender people is discrimination and violates federal and state law.
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ACLU-WA Defends the Right of Transgender People to Serve in the Military

News Release, Published: 
Friday, July 28, 2017
The ACLU stands ready to defend against any and all attempts to roll back the rules that protect transgender Americans’ ability to serve in our military openly.
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With Three Tweets President Trump Cruelly Threatens Trans Service Members With Rank Discrimination

Published: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
In a series of tweets this morning, President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a cruel and dangerous reversal in policy on transgender individuals serving in the military. If the military reverses its existing policies protecting trans service members in response to the president’s tweets, the ACLU is ready to act.
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Victory: Initiative Attempting To Roll Back Protections For Transgender Washingtonians Defeated Again

Published: 
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
For the second year in a row, a ballot initiative aimed at rolling back non-discrimination protections for our transgender friends and neighbors in Washington has failed.
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Equal Access Act

Document, Published: 
Friday, May 5, 2017
Many schools allow students to form clubs, like a drama club or a debate club. Under the law, schools cannot discriminate against student clubs, like Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) for example, simply because they disagree with the message or purpose of a club. This document provides information about the federal Equal Access Act and protections for student clubs.
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State Supreme Court: Courts can’t discriminate against an LGBT parent or favor religion when approving parenting plans

Published: 
Monday, April 10, 2017
In a unanimous decision in Re: the Marriage of Black, the state Supreme Court affirmed there’s no place for LGBT bigotry in court-approved parenting plans. The Supreme Court in its decision agreed with arguments made by Rachelle’s attorneys, the ACLU-WA as friend of the court, and other organizations. The Court ruled that the trial court discriminated against Rachelle for her sexual orientation and impermissibly favored her husband’s religion—which disapproves of same-sex relationships— when it approved the parenting plan.
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Victory: WA Supreme Court rules in favor of gay couple in discrimination case

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Washington Supreme Court today unanimously found that a Richland florist violated the state’s anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws when she refused to sell flowers to a gay couple for their wedding.
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State Supreme Court to Hear Oral Argument in Case of Gay Couple Refused Service by Florist

News Release, Published: 
Saturday, November 12, 2016
On Nov. 15 at Bellevue College, the WA Supreme Court heard oral argument in a case in which the lower court ruled a florist violated the state’s anti-discrimination law when she refused to sell flowers to a gay couple for their wedding. The ACLU is representing the couple.
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